Spain Tells Brits - YOU’RE BARRED

We are constantly being told by that part of our free and fearless press which supports alleged Prime Minister Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson that life will soon return to normal, that we will once again be able to enjoy the lifestyle on offer before the Coronavirus pandemic struck. And that, we are assured, will include holidays. Which for many Brits means going to countries like, well, Spain. Or maybe Greece.

Montjuic and the harbour, Barcelona

Sadly, the Greeks, who locked down early and very firmly indeed, saw us thinking about coming and declined: of the 29 countries whose nationals they were prepared to admit, none of them was the UK. And now it has got worse: the Spanish have followed suit. Which means the Gammonati forgetting about Magaluf, El Arenal, Benidorm, Torrevieja, Salou, Torremolinos, Fuengirola, and of course Playa de las Americas.

As Yahoo! Finance has reported, “Spain will refuse entry to British holidaymakers until the UK’s coronavirus situation improves, the country’s tourism minister has said. Maria Reyes Maroto said despite reports of a possible trial reopening which could see thousands of tourists from several nations pour into Spain, Britons would have to wait to be allowed to take holidays there”. Or, put in more understandable terms, YER BARRED.

There was more. “The tourism minister revealed that Germany and the Nordic countries were most likely to be first because their ‘epidemiological situations are very good’. But when asked about the UK, she reportedly said: ‘There the health situation still has to improve … For us it is important to guarantee that people arrive healthy and leave healthy’”. Moreover, “At the moment the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against all but essential travel abroad”. And holidays abroad are not essential.

Kos Town, Greece

Worse for those Brits looking for sun, sea, San Miguel and plenty of puke-inducing junk food, the Murdoch Sun has carried the same news. “Spain said Brit tourists will have longer until the situation here improves … Spain’s tourism Minister has opened up the possibility of foreign tourists being allowed [to visit the] Balearics and Canary Islands in two weeks time - but confirmed they won’t be British”. But hold on, what’s this?

“GREECE has said it will now allow Brit tourists, despite having previously banned visitors from the UK. The holiday hotspot is opening up to tourists again on June 15” Greece is back on? Wha-hey! Mucho Mythos-fuelled mayhem! Hersonnisos, Malia, Kavos, Faliraki, Kardamena, get booking! But here a problem enters. Called quarantine.

“Greek authorities have said they will conduct coronavirus tests on visitors arriving from airports deemed high-risk by the European Union's aviation safety agency EASA when it opens its airports … ‘If you originate from an airport on the EASA affected area list, then you will be tested upon arrival,’ said the ministry of foreign affairs … ‘If the test is negative, then the passenger self-quarantines for 7 days. If the test is positive, the passenger is quarantined under supervision for 14 days”. And there’s your holiday gone.

Because the UK has handled the pandemic in a less than optimal manner - some may be less charitably inclined, and just call it a shambles - our holidaymakers are going nowhere for the next two or three months. And if the Government doesn’t shape up, maybe longer.

By which time Sterling will have fallen further and you’ll need a visa. Taking back control!

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