Spain is opening its borders to holidaymakers earlier than expected.
British tourists will be allowed to travel to the country from June 21 so long as the Covid-19 situation allows.
Visitors will no longer need to undergo quarantine from midnight on June 20, when Spain’s state of emergency is lifted.
Spain previously said it will open its borders to foreign visitors from July 1.
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez revealed that the country would reopen to tourists from EU countries 10 days earlier than expected.
A government spokesperson confirmed to The Telegraph that the UK was considered an EU nation under the announcement, as it remains in the Brexit transition period. British tourists make up the biggest share of visitors to Spain each year.
However, “this does not mean that there may not be another change if the epidemiological situation in Britain requires this,” the spokesperson added.
Spain had previously imposed a two-week quarantine period on all international visitors.
Speaking on Sunday, Sanchez said: “We have been able to corner the virus in our country and on the European continent… but the risk has not disappeared.
“Tourism is a key sector for the economic recovery.”
Travel within Spain will also be possible from June 21 but it will remain mandatory to wear masks in crowded public spaces until a cure or vaccine for Covid-19 is found.
Spain will allow 11,000 German tourists to visit the Balearic Islands from today (Monday) as part of a pilot project.
Which? Travel editor Rory Boland said: “News that Spain will allow UK residents to visit from June 21 is positive progress towards us being able to get away this summer, but it remains too risky to book a holiday.
“The lack of comprehensive travel insurance makes any holiday booking a gamble and the government must urgently work with the insurance industry to provide policies that cover consumers for coronavirus-related disruption, so they can have confidence booking future holidays.
“The FCO’s travel warning should be extended to a definitive date, which can be reviewed if needed, so holiday providers and airlines know what dates it is appropriate to sell flights and holidays for, and travellers have some much-needed assurances around refunds, rebooking or claiming on insurance.”
The Foreign Office continues to advise against all but essential travel abroad and anyone who does faces a 14-day isolation on their return under quarantine rules introduced a week ago which airlines and travel companies are trying to overturn.
