Spain urged foreign holidaymakers on Monday to return from July as one of Europe’s strictest lockdowns eased, though tourism businesses were sceptical about salvaging the summer season.
The world’s second-most visited nation closed its doors and beaches in March to handle the COVID-19 pandemic, imposing a two-week quarantine on overseas visitors. But that requirement will be lifted from July 1, a government statement said.
Spain normally draws 80 million people a year with tourism accounting for over 12% of gross domestic product and an even bigger share of jobs, so the summer season is crucial to possibilities of mitigating a looming recession. “It’s complicated, we are not going to be able to save the tourist season, unless foreigners come,” said Alfonso Gomez, a restaurant owner in Barcelona.
Spain has recorded 28,752 coronavirus deaths and 235,772 cases, but has seen daily fatalities drop to fewer than 100 for the last week.
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