The Canary Islands are planning to welcome thousands of German tourists later this month before Spain’s borders officially reopen

The Canary Islands are planning to welcome thousands of German tourists later this month before Spain’s borders officially reopen, but want the visitors to be tested for the coronavirus, a source in the archipelago’s government said.

The plan, which still needs a green light from the central government in Madrid, follows an initiative by the Balearic Islands, which will start welcoming German tourists on Monday.

The main difference is that the Balearics will not ask for a test, while the Canaries will.

Severely affected by the pandemic, Spain now seems to have it under control. It plans to start reopening its borders to foreign visitors on July 1, with exceptions for some islands.

The Canary and Balearic Islands are among the Spanish regions least affected by the virus, with around 2,000 confirmed cases each.

The nearly 11,000 German tourists allowed to visit the Balearic Islands from Monday will have to provide health information and contact details and will face temperature checks on arrival, but will not undergo quarantine or testing.