The Ibizan tourism sector one again experienced a morning full of strong emotions yesterday. While the sting of the British Government’s decision to ‘punish’ the Balearics by relegating them to the amber traffic light was still fresh, yesterday the Dutch government also announced that it was removing the islands from its list of safe regions. Immediately afterwards, the tour operator TUI Holland announced the cancellation of its holiday packages with departures to the Balearics and Canaries from today until 2 August.
Following this latest decision, there was a sense of panic about the possibility of a ‘domino effect’ and a cascade of announcements from other companies and tour operators that they were cancelling their trips to the archipelago. Fortunately, there was no further news of such a move yesterday.
Therefore, as of today, all Dutch nationals wishing to travel to the Balearic Islands and the whole of Spain – including the Canary Islands – as well as Portugal, must prove that they have been fully vaccinated for at least fourteen days. If this is not the case, a negative certificate will be required on their return, which can be a PCR with a maximum of 72 hours or an antigen test with a maximum of 48 hours before landing in the Netherlands. An important element to note is that, with the diagnostic test, there will be no quarantine obligation.
According to the Dutch news portal Nu.nl yesterday, Dutch TUI holidaymakers now on holiday in the Pitiusas will have no problem ending their stay and returning home on the scheduled flight.
“It’s a rollercoaster ride”
After a euphoric start to July, the string of bad news in the last 48 hours is testing the nerves of the most patient. “This is a rollercoaster of emotions,” said Joan Miquel Costa, the island’s director of Tourism for the Ibiza Council, who admits that “the news about the increase in cases is generating a media noise about us that doesn’t help.
Costa is concerned but prudent, and his main concern is that panic among tour operators leading to flight cancellations and reducing the island’s connectivity. “We understand that these are business decisions, but we have to make it clear that we are safe islands, with a strong and well-prepared health system, and that the increase in cases does not translate into an increase in hospitalisations,” Costa explains.
For the full article, please visit Diario de Ibiza website here.