Spain Urges European Union To Establish General Rules On Tourists

Illustration (Prescott Horn / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Spain has urged EU countries to establish general rules related to COVID-19, including medical examinations for passengers going to European Union countries. This was done to open borders and rebuild freedom of travel when the national key was abolished.

The Spanish government also urged foreign tourists to visit in July in an effort to restart the tourism industry, a vital source of income for countries in the European Union. Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez said while EU countries have set different dates for reopening borders, they must agree to common steps for the 27 EU countries.

Spain has called for monitoring the health of tourists through individual checks as part of a general European Union procedure. The call was conveyed in a discussion paper submitted by Spain in the consultation process between EU countries.

"The definition of a safe and operational passenger transit system is key to restoring the normality of tourist flows in a sustainable manner," the document excerpt.

One diplomatic source said that one option being considered was testing passengers before boarding the plane. Tourists arriving before the end of the summer will be critical to reviving the sluggish economy, which the Bank of Spain predicts may contract as much as 12.4 percent this year.

In an effort to minimize debt incurred against the crisis, Spain will seek the maximum amount in grants from the European Union's COVID-19 fund, said government spokesman Maria Jesus Montero. "We will continue to fight for funds to be significant. We want the funds to be available as a transfer, not as a loan, "said Montero.

The Spanish government also declared a ten-day period of official mourning from Wednesday 27 May to honor the deaths in the country from the COVID-19 pandemic. The half-mast flag will be hoisted on all public facilities and naval vessels.

The mourning period will end with a ceremony chaired by the head of state, King Felipe, to commemorate the people who have died from COVID-19. Spain has recorded 27,117 deaths from COVID-19, making it one of the countries with the highest death toll in the world.

The country has 283,339 confirmed cases and just lifted a strict national lockdown rule that was put in place in mid-March.