Traveling abroad is no longer illegal in the United Kingdom as of Monday, May 17, so it is no longer necessary to present any proof or authorization to go on vacation to another country. In any case, travel is regulated according to a COVID Traffic Light, with Spain currently at amber. When will Spain move to green? Is it possible that the Balearic Islands could enter the green list sooner? Will we see British tourists traveling to Spain this May despite the current restrictions? What should Spanish tourism destinations and companies do given the current situation? We spoke with three experts in the British market, who offered their valuable perspective.
What is the level of confidence among British consumers right now?
According to Paul Charles, CEO of the travel marketing agency The PC Agency, "Unfortunately, that level of confidence isn't very high. Consumers are still confused by the various restrictions and rules in place. The British government isn't creating enough confidence to travel, and many consumers are holding back until there is more clarity from all governments, not just the UK."
This expert believes the reopening of international travel in the UK is "good news," however, "the green list of destinations is very small, and we need to expand that list so that consumers truly have more confidence in traveling."
Pablo Torres, who works in London as a hotel consultant for TSA Solutions, sees the glass half full: "The exponential growth in flight sales, reservations, and package holidays shows the obvious desire Britons have to travel." Furthermore, "by the time summer starts, most adults will have received both vaccines. This will give them that extra sense of security."
However, "most British citizens booking now are doing so to destinations that are already open with fewer restrictions. In this case, Portugal will be the biggest beneficiary," says Torres.
Furthermore, "with regard to Spain, several tour operators have already decided not to sell packages to our country this summer due to the current uncertainty." Whatever the outcome, he adds, "it's going to be a summer with a high percentage of last-minute bookings."
Another British market specialist, Kate McWilliams, director for Spain and Latin America at the marketing agency Lotus, agrees with her colleague Paul Charles's assessment: "The UK public values their summer holidays very much, however, there is currently a lot of confusion surrounding travel rules and restrictions."
Furthermore, of the 12 destinations currently on the "green list," "many of them are unreachable for Britons and have their own entry restrictions." Not to mention that "travel to these dozen locations requires two tests and the completion of a passenger locator form."
Will British tourists be traveling to Spain in May, even though we're in the amber zone?
Being in the amber zone means that tourists, upon returning to the UK, must self-isolate for 10 days and take two PCR tests per person on the second and eighth days, although there is the possibility of reducing the quarantine by half by taking an additional test. Under these conditions, Britons willing to travel to an amber destination would only be "the most daring and desperate," as British tourism journalist Simon Calder points out.
The problem is that most Spanish sun and beach destinations, to be viable, rely on volume and large quantities. Benidorm's hotel association, HOSBEC, warns: "Tourism will only be viable in areas classified as green."
Pablo Torres, a hotel consultant at TSA Solutions in London, points out that traveling to Spain currently requires between four and five PCR tests: one before leaving; another before returning; and two more while in quarantine, or three if you want to complete the quarantine in five days instead of 10.
In any case, "the mandatory ten-day quarantine is something few can afford."
Furthermore, so many PCR tests will multiply the cost of the trip. "For a family of four, since children over 11 must be tested, that means an outlay of around £1,600 just for tests. Add to that the quarantine. Therefore, except for professionals without children who work remotely, or couples with young children whose jobs allow them to work from home, this is not a viable option at this time."
Kate McWilliams also believes that certain niches of British consumers are willing to travel to Spain in May, despite the amber status.
"While the UK government advises against travel to amber countries, this is no longer illegal. It's true that this official recommendation, along with PCR and quarantine regulations, will discourage many people from traveling, but not everyone."
However, "given the testing and quarantine requirements, I doubt we'll see many short breaks or weekend getaways," he says. Furthermore, given the additional costs of testing, more price-sensitive customers will also be discouraged from traveling.
Who would be willing to travel in May? Basically, those who decide to take longer trips and certainly those with higher purchasing power, who can afford the inconvenience of a quarantine upon return. In fact, Kate McWilliams points out, "according to advance booking figures, tour operators are reporting a shift toward more luxury bookings, as expected."
At what point would Spain move to the green list?
"I fear we won't see Spain added to the green list until the second half of June. That is, we'll likely see a strong summer in July and August, but the start to the summer season will be slow," says Paul Charles.
"As long as Spain continues to reduce its infection rate and increases the percentage of its vaccinated population, it could be towards the end of June when British consumers could see Spain on the green list," adds the founder of The PC Agency.
Pablo Torres adds: "The British government will update the traffic light system every three weeks, based on each country's vaccination levels and infection rates, unless the Indian variant has a negative impact, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson hinted a few days ago. In that case, if Spain accelerates its vaccination rate, it could aspire to enter the green list in a few weeks, and somehow save the summer."
Could the Balearic and Canary Islands be added to the green list sooner?
In Paul Charles' opinion, it is possible.
In this sense, "the British government is willing to consider the islands separately from the mainland. So we can expect that the Balearic Islands could potentially enter the green list before the mainland. This could happen, at the earliest, around June 7, when the updated COVID traffic light system is expected to come into effect."
According to this expert, "the list of destinations that will be green on June 7 could be announced a few days before, around June 3. In short, the Balearic Islands could enter the green list on June 7 as long as infection rates remain low, but the percentage of the vaccinated population must be higher than the current one. This means that the Spanish government would have to prioritize the Balearic Islands in the vaccination campaign."
What do experts advise given the current situation?
"My advice would be to prioritize the vaccination campaign in the Balearic Islands if Spain truly wants a strong summer campaign, but also to prioritize vaccination for tourism sector workers both on the islands and on the Peninsula," says Paul Charles. "We're seeing other countries prioritizing tourism workers in their vaccination campaigns, and it's a sensible move. I would recommend the same for Spain," this expert concludes.
Pablo Torres believes that, "given the current situation, my recommendation would be to focus primarily on the Spanish market, with tailored offers and experiences." And regarding the international market, we should remain closely monitoring the lifting of travel restrictions in each country with the aim of launching targeted campaigns.
"As for British customers, as soon as there's more certainty that travel is possible with fewer restrictions, they'll book," says Pablo Torres. However, "it will be very last-minute, so packages and specific offers will help attract tourists. And when I talk about offers, I'm not referring to discounts, but rather to bundling experiences, collaborating with local businesses so tourists can discover more and better destinations; offering more value, taking charge of a larger part of the customer journey, thus making these 2021 holidays special and different."
In Kate McWilliams' opinion, "It's important that Spanish companies continue to allow flexibility in bookings and clarity with their cancellation policies to give consumers the added confidence they need. We also suggest highlighting the safety and hygiene policies that have been implemented to give them that extra peace of mind."
Another positive point to consider is the COVID travel insurance that destinations such as Andalusia, the Balearic Islands, and the Region of Murcia have rolled out. Therefore, "it is important that these aspects are effectively communicated to the UK public."
On the other hand, initiatives such as offering on-site PCR testing at some hotels will also help boost consumer confidence. "Ultimately, Spain is one of the UK's favorite holiday destinations, and there is significant pent-up demand. That's why we are fully confident that holidays in Spain will recover in the coming months."
