The Director of the Spanish Tourist Board has reflected on the past year as he looks ahead to 2021.
Javier Pinanes, Director of the Spanish Tourist Office in the UK, reflects on the year for Spanish Tourism and looks ahead to 2021: “There is no doubt that this year has been a challenging one for global tourism and while we have seen casualties as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the travel industry has demonstrated its commitment and effort to rapidly adapt to new scenarios.
“Spanish authorities have acted swiftly and decisively to take controlled measures to contain the virus. The tourism sector itself has also made a huge effort to adapt quickly and implement measures that guarantee visitor safety and ensure that we are in a position to receive tourists while reducing the spread of COVID-19.
“Work is continually being carried out between the Spanish and British authorities and with the support of the tourism sector so that decisions are made or adjusted based exclusively on epidemiological criteria. A success of which was seen when the Canary Islands were added to the UK travel corridors list having been deemed ready to receive visitors thanks to the low COVID-19 infection rate and an extensive review of the islands’ safety procedures and tourism infrastructure. It is unfortunate that the UK entered into a second national lockdown before the Canaries could really capitalise on the surge in demand, however the more regionalised approach taken to establish this travel corridor bodes well for Spanish destinations with lower case rates.
“Our outlook for the next year is an optimistic one as we are now more equipped than ever to control the virus and receive tourists with their safety being our highest priority. The Spanish government, together with the regional authorities, local councils, tourism municipalities and other bodies will continue to work intensely to control the virus and reinforce the image of Spain as a safe destination.”
