Spanish resorts and Russian tourists can't “find” each other. During the pandemic, air traffic between the countries was open, but the problem was covid restrictions and delays in the approval of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. Now the situation is reversed: the popular Mediterranean country has expanded the possibilities of entry into its territory for travelers from Russia, but there is no direct flight between the two countries.
The Spanish authorities have finally allowed entry to Russian tourists who have been ill with covid or presented a negative test result. The decision on free borders was taken by the Ministry of the Interior and came into force last Saturday, May 21, immediately after a new order amending the old travel order to Spain was published in the Official State Gazette (BOE).
Under the new rule, travelers from non-EU countries can now enter Spain for tourism purposes, provided one of the medical documents is presented. Until now, only tourists vaccinated against COVID-10 have been allowed to enter Spain from third countries. The new move means that the authorities of the country in the Pyrenees have equalized the right to cross the border for tourists from the block and outside it.
The decision was approved by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism of Spain, Reyes Maroto, who also noted that travelers from third countries are now equated with travelers from the EU and associated Schengen countries – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
« This great news, long awaited by the tourism sector, will make it easier for tourists from outside Europe to visit us this high season, guaranteeing safe mobility. Spain is becoming one of the most desirable destinations in the world, as evidenced by demand figures approaching pre-pandemic levels month after month,” the official explained.
Easing entry restrictions for travelers from third countries will attract even more tourists to the country this summer, he said. Although the Russians are unlikely to be affected – there is no direct flight.
In its order published in the official gazette, the Ministry of the Interior emphasized that in order for travelers to have the right to enter Spain, both from EU countries and and from non-EU countries, they must submit one of the following documents:
- COVID-19 vaccination certificate proving that the traveler has taken the second or third/booster dose within the last nine months.
- Certificate of recovery from the virus issued within the last 180 days. The certificate must be issued at least 11 days after the confirmation of COVID-19 infection by PCR or antigen test performed by laboratories.
- Negative results of a PCR test carried out 72 hours before departure to Spain, or negative results of an antigen test carried out 24 hours before departure to Spain.
“Children under 12 years of age are exempt from presentation of any type of certificate. In addition, passengers arriving by sea, as well as those arriving at airports with an EU Covid digital certificate or recognized as equivalent by the European Commission, will not need to complete the SPTH health control form,” the Ministry of Tourism said.
Since last Thursday, May 19, Spain has also lifted the sanitary controls at its land borders with France, which had been in place for more than two years. In addition, on Monday, May 17, Spain also began the gradual opening of the borders between the North African country of Morocco and the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.
Earlier, Turprom wrote that “Popular beaches of Mediterranean resorts were covered with rotting silt, which was ordered not clean up.”
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