Updated: Tenerife ‘to close borders’ for 15 days

Tighter restrictions are due to be implemented in Tenerife from Friday, with reports borders closed for 15 days – but holidaymakers are exempt from the restrictions.

Jet2holidays, the biggest UK tour operator for the Canary Islands, said it would continue operations and had assurances that the move does not affect its packages – and Abta confirmed holidaymakers can still travel.

More: Authorities confirm Tenerife holidays will continue

More than 60,000 Brits are understood to be booked to travel to the popular Canary island over the Christmas break.

The government of the Canary islands announced the border closure last night, with various media reports carrying the story this morning. But an official communication confirmed tourists were exempt from the measures.

It said: “The entry and exit of people to the island of Tenerife is restricted from 24.00 hours a day December 18 (Friday) until January 1, 2021 and it is also recommended to avoid the mobility between its municipalities.”

But confirmed: “In the case of national and foreign tourists who plan to come to the island of Tenerife on vacation, you can take advantage of the exceptionalities that the current regulations on the right of admission in tourist accommodation establishments, where you have to present a negative health test that proves you are free from coronavirus.”

Abta clarified: “The Tenerife authorities have confirmed that UK holidaymakers will be able to travel to the island, subject to providing a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of travel. This requirement is already in place for all foreign nationals travelling to the Canary Islands.”

Jet2holidays said: “We are aware of news reports regarding Tenerife closing its borders to holidaymakers. We can assure customers that we have received confirmation from the Canaries Government that this is not the case. Holidaymakers can still travel to Tenerife to enjoy Christmas and their well-deserved holidays in the sunshine.

“Given this welcome update from the Canaries Government, alongside the current FCDO travel advice, we are operating our flights and holidays programmes to Tenerife as normal.

“We put every effort into making sure that our customers enjoy their much-needed holidays. In line with that, we can assure customers that hotels, restaurants, bars and shopping centres remain open in Tenerife, and our award-winning teams are in place as normal to look after customers.”

A spokesman for Thomas Cook interpreted the rule similarly. “Our understanding is Tenerife is still open for tourists who have a negative result and so we will continue to operate as normal,” he said.

A spokeswoman for Tui said: “We’re aware of the news reports regarding the recent announcement that Tenerife will close its borders from Friday, December 18.

“We are currently working through what this means for our holiday programme and will update customers as soon as we have more information.”

The Express reported that Angel Victor Torres, president of the Canary government, said exceptional measures had to be taken to stop the rise in Covid-19 infections.

Confirmed cases in Tenerife have been rising, with the island going from well below the national average in Spain to among the highest. There were 114 cases per 100,000 inhabitants on December 14

Only people travelling for health reasons, education, work, going back home, urgent judicial action, taking an official exam, an unavoidable event or to look after a dependent will be able to travel in or out of Tenerife during the 15-day period, it said.