Spain: Start planning summer holidays. Spaniards will enjoy staycations

SPAIN’S Tourism Minister Reyes Maroto believes normal travel will restart this summer – at least within the country – allowing people to plan a getaway.

She expects more people to be travelling during the all-important high season than last year when holidays were hit by the covid-19 pandemic. “Spaniards can start planning their vacations.”

The politician said the optimism was based on forecasts of business leaders and tourist companies. “Realistically and cautiously, we are talking about half the volume of 2019.”

And she underlined the need for the country’s vaccination drive to continue at pace and without further setbacks. According to the latest figures, 22% of the population has received at least one shot of the Pfizer, Moderna, or AstraZeneca jabs; around 8% have had t he two doses needed for full protection.

The target remains to have 70% of the adult population in Spain immunised by the end of summer.

Maroto said: “We are facing a very different summer this year, where we have the vaccination drive, which is the best tool to reactivate travel and the economy. This is going to ensure we can travel safely.”

She said some Spaniards had begun to reserve hotel rooms. “There are already families that are planning their trips; be it to their second home or a favourite holiday destination.

“We will be taking measures to build confidence and so that we can travel safely.”