Spain’s tourism secretary hopes a pilot scheme for pre-departure testing for travel between the UK and the Canary Islands could begin this month, paving the way for a mutually-recognised scheme between the UK and Spain.
Fernando Valdés said talks were under way and believes the current requirement for PCR tests to prove tourists are Covid-free “has to change” to reduce barriers to travel ahead of a vaccine rollout.
PCR results can take two days and are more expensive than antigen tests, which give results in a matter of minutes. The reliability of antigen tests is not as high as that of PCRs, but they have been recommended by the EC for the diagnosis of Covid-19.
Valdés was speaking before leaders from 95 countries committed to the adoption of pre-departure international protocols for Covid-19 tests, and acceptance of results on arrival, in the ‘La Palma Declaration’ on Monday. The conference was hosted by Spanish governments and the World Travel & Tourism Council. UK tourism minister Nigel Huddleston spoke.
Valdés told Travel Weekly: “We have to move forward to put in place measures that are more flexible, more cheap and more accessible.”
He wants to move away from quarantine altogether with pre-departure tests, but believes the next step is to trial the regimes in the Canary Islands, which has a UK travel corridor, from December 15 to February 15. Similar talks are under way with Germany.
“A pilot would give confidence to tourists, operators and agents,” he said, predicting a move towards some form of rapid diagnostic testing “within weeks, not months”.
The Canaries decreed a law to allow negative antigen tests to be accepted as Covid-free proof this week. It could be in place by December 15, exempting the archipelago from a Spain-wide law requiring negative PCR results.
The UK is yet to confirm which tests will be accepted when the ‘test to release’ scheme begins on December 15. Airports including Gatwick, Edinburgh and Newcastle have started offering PCR tests on site. Prices range from £60 to £99.