The Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, said this Friday that Spaniards can start planning their summer holidays now and believes that summer tourist numbers will reach approximately 50% of those for the same period in 2019 or even slightly better.
In an interview on La Sexta, the head of Industry estimated that overnight stays in hotels during March – published on Friday by the National Statistics Institute (INE) – fell “only” 54% when in previous months the reductions were around 90%.
Maroto confirmed that the Imserso trips will start being marketed in September and will be available from October, with the assurance that the target group will be fully vaccinated by then.
He insisted that in summer the vaccination programme will reach 70% of the population, which will make it possible to travel safely.
With regard to the digital passport for travel, he reiterated the Government’s commitment that it will be active in mid-June, but the European Union is still working towards a common document that allows mobility throughout the Schengen area.
He explained that the Ministry is working with travel agencies, which have not turned over a single euro since March 2020, to take advantage of European funds and modernise their business model.