The Balearic government wanted to know the scope of the UK's measure. Alarmed by the "serious damage" that a quarantine could cause to what is the second largest foreign tourist market, the government was seeking to establish a "safe air corridor" with the UK.
The regional ministry for the economic model, tourism and employment argues that the epidemiological situation in the Balearics justifies there being an air corridor. Over the past fourteen days, there has been a cumulative incidence of eight confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Balearics per 100,000 inhabitants over the past fortnight. This is contrasted with 37.9 for Spain as a whole and 14.1 for the UK.
The ministry notes that the Foreign & Commonwealth Office travel guidance has excluded the Balearics and the Canaries from the recommendation against all non-essential travel (this is for mainland Spain). Nevertheless, the quarantine requirement also applies to people travelling from the Balearics and the Canaries.
The FCO, for its part, has highlighted the rise in the number of cases in certain regions of Spain - Aragon, Catalonia and Navarre in particular.
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The FCO's logic appears totally defective here.How can they deem the Balearics as safe to travel to but still requiring the same 14 day quarantine on return to the UK as unsafe areas of Spain.As every traveller through a UK airport is assessed individually in terms of where they have been there is no need to lump all parts of Spain in the same bucket re quarantine rules. If we recognise different rules for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland for travel from the rest of the UK then why is the same thing not possible with different autonomous communities within Spain?
I have set up a petition with over 15k sigs to have this rule overturned, please sign and contribute http://chng.it/2rCFrG5m
In other news: arrived in the UK Friday evening from Palma. Seems that the Balearic Islands and Tenerife etc are exempted from the ruling. Just heard locally
Sorry to all those hard working people and businesses during these hard times as I have seen the long hours and hard work they put in to give us a good holiday. This will be my first year since 1986 that I have not visited the Island, I am gutted to say the least however I wont miss paying the greedy local government the tourist tax, its far to high especially when paying for a family of three. This tax sticks in my throat, paying that money for the privilege of spending my hard earned cash on your Island and believe me I have spent a small fortune over the 34 years I've been going. Over the last few years we have seen demonstrations and graffiti on the walls from anti tourist groups I'm just wondering how they feel now they have had a bit of taste of keeping your lovely Island to yourselves. I understand the summer invasion must get to you but to want it stopped is just crazy. No jobs, shops and bars closed, no extra money to spend on little treats. I am a taxi driver in the UK and the lack of work atm is killing me, its so frustrating. Anyway best of luck to you all, best of luck to the whole world and fingers crossed something can be done to stop this horrible disease soon.
The UK Government have acted with no consideration for travellers. It’s crazy. According to the Foreign Office guidance, it remains safe to travel to the Balearics. Yet we are included in the quarantine. Policy based on what??? Also, for travellers already here, no notice at all. Yet the UK stuttered over imposing their own face mask rule in shops. The UK arrogance is astounding. Have they looked at their own data? Of course not, that would involve science and evidence - something the government has little time for. This is terrible for Mallorcan tourism now. It’s terrible for travellers. And if this can happen with no notice, it’s terrible for future confidence in holiday bookings. Who will take the chance on booking a holiday if the quarantine can be imposed at any time with NO notice. I despair.