Spain relaxes Covid travel rules for over 12s in boost for British holidaymakers before half term

Spain has announced it will drop its entry requirement for children over 12 from non-EU countries such as the UK to be fully vaccinated.

They will be required to show evidence of a recent negative coronavirus test.

The changes come into force on Monday.

Many British families had cancelled holidays to Spain, because those who had just turned 12 would be unable to meet the requirement.

Other children over 12 may have recently had Covid, causing a delay on when they would be eligible for a second jab.

Tourism bosses in the Canary Islands had said the restrictions had lost them millions of pounds' worth of trade as British families looked elsewhere for their half-term getaways.

On Friday, an official Government bulletin announced that British teenagers will only need to present a negative PCR test carried out 72 hours before arrival from Monday.

Announcing the move, Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska Gómez, said: “In many countries there are difficulties or even the impossibility of obtaining the vaccine for use in the population under 18 years of age.

“Consequently, it is considered convenient to establish specific conditions for these people.”

While the changes may be a boost for British holidaymakers hoping to get a last minute break for the February half-term holidays, many had already chosen to holiday elsewhere instead.

Travel agents have reported strong demand for Turkey and Mexico as Brits sought alternatives to Spain over the rule, while some families have chosen to postpone their breaks.

The Spanish Government had come under pressure from tourism bosses in the country to drop the jab rule for teenagers.

Jorge Marichal, president of the Tenerife Hoteliers Association, told the BBC: “The loss could be nearly 400 million euros in the Canary Islands.

“That's only talking about the hotels - if we take into account the restaurant economy [too] it is a huge impact.”

The relaxation of the Covid vaccination rule for some tourists comes after the country formally dropped its outdoor mask requirement on Thursday.

However, mask wearing will still be compulsory at mass open-air events, in bars, cafes and restaurants.