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On July 1, 2020, Spain will no longer require international travelers to quarantine for two weeks. While Spain is currently allowing travelers from abroad to enter the country, there is a mandatory 14-day quarantine in effect. Originally, officials were planning on a late July reopening, but in late May, President Pedro Sanchez announced the possible July 1 reopening within a framework that would safeguard health. The Ministers of Industry, Trade and Tourism and of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda then followed up with a plan to lift the quarantines during a May 27 video conference with tourism business owners and the General Secretary of the UN World Tourism Organization.
The reopening plan includes the implementation of various health control measures, such as taking travelers’ temperatures, filling out questionnaires and monitoring those entering the country through a controlled number of points of entry. The government is also implementing a pilot project creating safe corridors for third countries that have the same level of health and safety and who accept reciprocal terms with Spain. These actions will depend on infection/death rates that support easing mobility restrictions within each country and at the EU borders.
The reopening measures will also be coordinated with the other EU Member States in the way of standardized health protocols throughout the entire tourism chain. That means changes at airports and other travel/tourism hubs and businesses that are both facility and information oriented. An Operational Recovery Plan will be implemented in two phases with the following changes:
Phase 1
- Cleaning and disinfection protocols, signage, information panels, public address announcements and information on web pages and social media
- Access to passengers will be limited at terminals; online check-in will be encouraged; and security protocols will be modified
- Also, all processes and procedures for baggage claim, crew movements, the opening of commercial premises, and parking areas, as well as the operations to board and deplane will be adapted to the new health safety environment.
- All passenger control measures will be coordinated with the health authorities
Phase 2
- A series of changes both in technological developments and infrastructure will allow for permanent social distancing measures to be implemented.
International travelers can expect to see such changes throughout the EU and other regions as the new “normal.”
