Ibiza, Menorca and Majorca coronavirus travel advice: Balearics could open for holidays this summer – but NOT to Brits – The Sun

THE BALEARIC Islands could still open for holidaymakers this summer, but tourists from the UK won't be invited.

Trips to Ibiza, Majorca, Menorca and Formentera are off the cards for Brits because the country waited too long to go into lockdown.

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According to the Balearics Tourism minister Iago Negueruela, the local government is expecting the islands to remain closed in May, June and July due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But they are cautiously optimistic about opening up in August, with 25 per cent of their usual visitor numbers.

This could then increase to 50 per cent of the usual visitor numbers over the following months.

However, he told local media that only tourists from certain countries would be allowed in.

Mr Negueruela said: "There are countries like the United Kingdom that have taken too long to adopt containment measures and that also puts us in a different situation with respect to them."

According to Travel Mole, the Balearics attracted 13.6 million tourists last year and Brits were made up nearly a third of that number, closely followed by Germany.

Holiday hotspots have been "rebelling" against a prediction that the tourism industry won't get back to normal until the end of 2020.

Minister of Labour for the Spanish Government, Yolanda Día is facing a major backlash after she suggested hotels and leisure establishments might not open again this year.

She had said the so-called de-escalation period after lockdown will almost certainly be done in two phases and the holiday industry won't be taking precedence.

Spanish resorts on the mainland, as well as in the Canary Islands and the Balearics, have been fired up by the gloomy outlook and are determined to fight back, even if holidaymakers are only local people or from within Spain itself until the European borders reopen.

As a result, Spanish beaches could open as early as mid-June although it is likely that only locals will be able to enjoy them.

If the prediction from the Balearics Tourism minister is correct, it could be several months before Brits are allowed to bag themselves a sun lounger.

EasyJet is looking forward to next spring, after launching its Easter 2021 flight schedule five months early.

Cautious Brits looking to book holidays for next year can find flights to Spain available from £26.99 each way.

When Brits do finally return to the country after the coronavirus pandemic, they could see themselves benefiting from a beer price war.

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Bar owners have been boasting about slashing prices for a pint of lager across the Costa Del Sol and Costa Blanca, as bars fight to attract business following the lockdown.

Although they will almost certainly be advised to wear masks and will have their temperature taken when arriving at airports and ports too.

Tourism leaders have also explained that holiday-makers will have to sunbathe 6ft apart on beaches even after the end of the coronavirus crisis.

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