FOLLOWING a stunning u-turn, the Spanish Tourist Office (STO) in London has generated widespread uncertainty among UK travellers.
Following a modification of the criteria, the STO announced on Wednesday that unvaccinated British citizens would be able to enter Spain.
However, they issued a statement saying they had misconstrued a Spanish government bulletin only eight hours later.
In fact, the requirements for unvaccinated UK visitors have remained unchanged.
What are the laws for British tourists visiting Spain?
British travellers aged 12 and up must show proof of vaccination or produce a recovery certificate to enter Spain.
The STO adds that if more than 270 days have gone since the last dose, proof of a booster vaccination is also required, save for youth aged 12 to 17 (inclusive).
This implies that if you haven't had COVID-19 in the past six months and haven't been vaccinated, you won't be allowed to travel to Spain right now.
Everyone in the United Kingdom must fill out a Health Control Form, and there are special restrictions for children and teens.
What caused the blunder?
The STO statement was made owing to a misinterpretation of a Spanish government official state bulletin.
Pedro Medina, deputy head of the Spanish tourism agency in the United Kingdom, apologised for the misunderstanding.
We sincerely apologise for the mistake earlier today, which was caused by a misunderstanding of the revised entrance requirements."
Pedro Medina, Deputy Director, Spanish Tourist Office, UK
"We sincerely apologize for the earlier confusion caused by a misunderstanding of the revised entrance requirements earlier today."
The only modification stated - and not overturned - is that children under the age of 12 who travel with a fully vaccinated adult with an NHS COVID Pass will be required to fill out a health control form.
On Twitter, Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of the Advantage Travel Partnership, called the Spanish reversal a "spectacular disaster."
For British tourists, Spain is the most preferred vacation location. According to Statista, 18.81 million British tourists visited the nation in 2017, but that figure dropped to just 3.15 million in 2020, when the COVID epidemic was at its peak.
