Many resort regions remain at risk
In mid-March, Mallorca, like the other islands of the Balearic archipelago in the Mediterranean, ceased to be considered a region dangerous to visit due to the pandemic. In this regard, as "Russkaya Germaniya" notes, the German Foreign Ministry, in accordance with the recommendations of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), lifted the travel warning for this region, as well as for northern Portugal. But Madeira, Lisbon and the Algarve remain risk zones, and until recently they were "high-risk" zones. For such territories, the Foreign Ministry and RKI provide for particularly strict restrictions.
In addition, the Danish province of North Jutland and the Bahamas in the Caribbean are no longer considered risk zones. A little earlier, the Croatian peninsula of Istria was removed from the list. Popular holiday destinations such as Greece, Italy, France, Turkey, and Austria continue to be on the list of dangerous regions. By the latest decision of the RKI and the Foreign Ministry, Tanzania and Moldova have been added to them. The basis for issuing warnings is RKI data on the spread of infection: if there are more than 50 per 100,000 inhabitants in the last week, the region is considered dangerous.
For all currently "safe" regions, the travel warning (Reisewarnung) has been changed to a travel advisory (Reisehinweis), stating that there are no entry bans or recommendations to refrain from travel, but the danger still remains. For German tourists, the lifting of the warning primarily means that there is no longer a need to take coronavirus tests upon return and observe a ten-day quarantine (it could be reduced to 5 days by taking a negative test).
In December-January, Mallorca and the neighboring islands – Ibiza, Menorca, Formentera – were the worst in terms of the epidemiological situation among all regions of Spain, and now they have become the best: here there are 21 infections per 100,000 people, which is better than in any of the German federal states. For now, most hotels on Mallorca are closed due to the winter season and the pandemic. In the island's capital, Palma, only 19 out of 72 hotels are operating. Since the beginning of March, restaurants, cafes and bars have again been able to serve customers – but only outdoors and until 5 p.m.
In most German states, Easter holidays are a traditional period for vacations and tourist trips. Due to the tightening of the lockdown, domestic travel was excluded, but for tour operators, the "opening" of Mallorca is an encouraging signal. They welcomed the decision on the Balearics. "Our entire industry has been intensively preparing to offer customers a safe and responsible vacation," said Marek Andryszak, head of the German branch of the world's largest tourism concern TUI.
He spoke at the International Tourism Exchange in Berlin (ITB) – one of the largest industry fairs, which this year, due to the pandemic, took place exclusively in digital format. Many representatives of travel companies spoke of Mallorca as the main hope of the industry for the coming months – but overall, the situation on the Balearic Islands is still far from normal, and not only because bars and discos are closed.
German tourists planning to fly to Mallorca must, as before, register on the internet portal of the Spanish Ministry of Health. The registration code is checked at the airport; those without registration are not allowed into the country. The presence of a negative PCR test for coronavirus taken within the last 72 hours is also checked – this is an official requirement, but checks are carried out selectively. Those who arrive without a test face a fine of up to 3,000 euros. Unlike rapid tests, PCR testing is not free; the cost of tests averages from 40 to 70 euros; in some cases, the services are paid for by health insurance funds.
On the islands of the Balearic archipelago themselves, various anti-virus requirements apply. Trips to Ibiza and Formentera for foreigners who do not permanently reside there are currently impossible. Everywhere in public places, it is necessary to wear a protective mask – including when walking along the sea. It can only be removed when lying on the sand or during sports.
The same applies to catering: sitting on the terrace of a restaurant or bar is only allowed with a mask; it can be removed when eating or taking a sip. No more than 6 people can sit at a table. Soon, serving customers indoors will also be allowed, but no more than 30% of capacity; outdoors it is 50%. Nightclubs and discos are still closed; a curfew is in effect on all islands – it is forbidden to leave homes from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
On the Balearic Islands, the decision of the German Foreign Ministry was met with particular joy – due to the lack of tourists, an extremely difficult economic situation has developed; Spanish media regularly report mass unemployment and extreme impoverishment of the population dependent on guests. In normal years, tourism brings Mallorca 35% of its income. In 2020, the number of vacationers decreased by 87% – only 1.7 million people visited the islands.
The lifting of restrictions should be a turning point. Tui itself announced that the first large hotels it owns will start operating as early as the coming weekend, and air traffic will also be resumed – the first flights to Palma are expected from Hanover, Frankfurt and Düsseldorf. Other airlines are gradually returning flights from Germany to their schedules.
Mallorca regularly ranks first in the lists of favorite destinations for German tourists, but in the upcoming season, it may cede the lead to another island: according to surveys, most guests from Germany would like to go to the Greek island of Crete this year. The third and fourth places are occupied by two more islands in the Aegean Sea – Rhodes and Kos; in fifth place is the Turkish Riviera.
Experts expect a rapid recovery of the tourism industry, which has suffered devastating losses, coining the term "revenge travel" – trips taken in retaliation for the lost past year and the beginning of the current one. Travel spending is also expected to increase: according to preliminary booking data from Tui, investments in summer vacations exceed 2019 levels by 20%.
Thomas Bareiß, the federal government's official commissioner for tourism, believes the tourism industry will soon see a renaissance due to the expansion of the vaccination campaign. Many will be vaccinated over the summer, but it is unlikely that those who have received the shot will be the first to board planes to Mallorca. Rather, other people who do not believe in the danger will immediately go on trips – risking their own health, giving little thought to the possibility of bringing the virus home.
Any movement – airport, plane, hotel, and restaurant – still carries the risk of infection and becoming a carrier of the coronavirus infection, which could have been avoided along with resort pleasures. Therefore, trips to distant lands remain a matter of vacationers' conscience, no matter how much tour operators lure guests.