Far from their relatives who live in other parts of the country, they will be forced to spend the Catholic Easter millions of Spaniards, as Health regulations prohibit travel between regions. «It's very unfair. »Citizens are required to act responsibly, while politicians are adopting erratic measures.", ," says 50-year-old Mr. Álvarez, who will not be able to travel from Madrid to the north of the country to visit his children.
The debate surrounding the different rules for dealing with COVID-19, is gaining ground in Spain, as well as in other European countries, which, Although they restrict domestic travel, they allow travel abroad and welcome foreign tourists. These often conflicting rules reflect the difficult balancing act that European countries are called upon to perform in order to protect public health and save their economies, especially in southern countries that depend on tourism revenue. After seven years of continuous growth in tourist arrivals, In 2020, Spain welcomed just 19 million visitors, down from 84 million in 2019.
The Spanish government defended its public health policy, arguing that tourists pose relatively little risk, as they will have undergone a molecular test before arriving in the country. The European Commission, for its part, has put forward a proposal to create a digital immunity certificate, which will enable EU citizens to travel within the Union. The Spanish opposition, however, took advantage of the European Commission’s initiative the Spanish opposition to demonstrate that there are different standards and criteria for tourism, with foreign visitors being favored over Spaniards. The government spokesperson said last week that Spain is doing exactly what other European countries are doing, restricting domestic travel for the benefit of foreign tourists.
Strict travel restrictions are also in place in Italy. Citizens may leave their municipality only to go to work or to purchase essential goods. Italians may, however, travel abroad and return, provided they undergo a test 48 hours before their return. The country’s Ministry of Health maintains that the risk of infection is lower on international trips than when traveling between regions. Despite the EU’s efforts, member states have so far failed to develop a common travel strategy, opting instead for different rules.
