Thousands of Germans "test" Malle & Co from Monday

Lisa Weidner studied German and sociology and completed several journalistic internships. She is a volunteer at Hubert Burda Media Verlag and writes for the "Meine Familie und Ich" magazine and on nutrition and health topics.

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The countdown for Mallorca fans will be shorter than expected: thanks to a pilot project, almost 11,000 holidaymakers from Germany will be able to return to the Balearic Islands from Monday, two weeks before the reopening of the Spanish borders.

With the help of up to 10,900 Germans, who are gradually allowed to go to the Balearic Islands from Monday, Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera are testing the emergency for the summer vacation in Corona times.

Green light for Spanish tourism

"The islands will be the first safe destination in Spain after the pandemic," said Regional President Francina Armengol on Tuesday in Palma de Mallorca. The central government in Madrid, which will not officially open the borders of the former Corona hotspot to tourists until July 1, finally gave the green light the day before after days of tough negotiations.

Germany was chosen for this pilot project for two "obvious" reasons, said Armengol: "Germany is the country that most holidaymakers come from and the epidemiological numbers are very similar to ours".

No quarantine requirement for travelers

The holidaymakers must stay on the islands for at least five days and not go into quarantine after entry, as is otherwise required in Spain when entering from abroad, Armengol explained. Your health minister, Iago Negueruela, emphasized that Germans who have a second residence on the islands are also allowed to enter. People are gradually being let into the country by air.

A Covid-19 test will not be required. Armengol: "The travelers have to fill out a health form on the plane, and after landing the temperature is measured at the airports." If a tourist shows no symptoms, he can go straight to his accommodation, the socialist said.

Is Spain ready for the tourist onslaught?

The pilot project is intended to rehearse the emergency - the expected rush of tourists from July. They want to check whether the security measures are working at airports and hotels, among other places. "The focus is on the safety of the locals, the staff and of course the guests," said the head of government. If a tourist shows symptoms of Covid-19, they will be tested.And if this is positive, he and his family will be assigned special quarters.

On Mallorca and the other islands, after the three-month Corona "closure", people are looking forward to the "Alemanes" like never before. Carme Planas, President of the Gastronomy Association CAEB, said: "We have to pool our efforts to make the project work, to create trust." This can be used as a model for other tourist regions in Spain. The head of the hoteliers association FEHM, Maria Frontera, said: "We have to give this impetus so that the Balearic Islands are seen as a safe travel destination all over the world."

Health Minister Negueruela had previously stressed several times during the negotiations with Madrid that the Balearic Islands need tourism "like air to breathe". The industry's income makes up over a third of total regional income.

Who is part of the project?

Four local hotel chains are participating in the project. On the German side, the tour operators TUI, DER Touristik and Schauinsland Reisen are also involved. According to media reports, German vacationers in Mallorca are to be accommodated in Playa de Palma and in the Bay of Alcúdia.

A Tuifly spokesman said German vacationers could fly to Mallorca from Monday. On June 15, two Tuifly machines with around 180 seats each are scheduled to start in Düsseldorf and Frankfurt / Main. Two more flights will be offered on Thursday and the following Monday.

According to Spanish media reports, the Canary Islands are also negotiating a similar pilot project with Madrid. (lw / dpa)

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