On Wednesday, the Inter-Territorial Council of the National Health System decided that anyone arriving in Spain from countries classified as a Covid risk will need to present a negative PCR test.
At the meeting of the Balearic parliament's budget committee on Wednesday morning, the regional health minister, Patricia Gómez, had signalled that an "important announcement" was expected from Salvador Illa, Spain's health minister, and that it would have to do with controls at ports and airports.
With testing also therefore expected to be introduced at Spain's ports and airports at some point, Gómez said that experts will decide what type of test will be the most appropriate. For now, however, the airports authority Aena is stressing that travellers need to be tested in their countries of origin; there is no testing at Spain's airports.
The test requirement is expected to come into effect on November 23. The health control form that travellers currently have to complete will, from this date, include the need to show a negative test carried out no more than 72 hours prior to arrival in Spain.
This is a measure that the tourism industry, airlines and certain regional governments have been calling for. In the Canaries there is such a system, as the region is now in high season. Regional legislation is to make it a requirement for travellers to be tested if they cannot provide proof of a negative test having been carried out in the country of origin. As this cannot be done at airports, tests will be at accommodation.
Other countries, such as Greece, already have this test requirement.
5 comments
To be able to write a comment, you have to be registered and logged in
Seriously.what extra cost because of brexit.and no additional paper work is required.you just might be asked to produce it.and who goes on holiday without insurance
Interesting why is it that the Gov of the Balearias talks about tests but docent talk about who is going to pay and then the next day they say that if you come to Mallorca you will need a Tested cert and that has to be no longer than 72 hrs old and who pays for that a lot of vague answers about travel , typical .
For Swedes going to Mallorca this will increase you cost with about 150-200 Euro (covid test and a certificate) per person which will lead to less people travelling which will lead to more cancelled flights. Probably the same cost for people traveling from UK?
Whilst I’m pro-testing, if the Balearic’s really want tourists back particularly from the UK they’ll need to consider the costs and practical ramifications. 1. Currently in the UK asking for a covid test to travel is incredibly expensive. This will add a significant cost to travel. 2. Getting a covid test, unless you are priority is really hard and time consuming. 3. With Brexit changes meaning extra costs (health insurance etc) and documentation requirements, travel will be more expensive and complex. Will travellers be put off? I suspect many will. If you really want tourists back you need to make it easy and not prohibitively expensive. Perhaps airport testing (here) is the way forward???
I’ll take the test as long as they don’t expect me to pay for it , you either want tourists to keep your economy afloat or you dont you already have a reputation for not welcoming tourists !
Contrary to what the media and politicians may say, in practice it can take up to a week to get the results in the UK.