Most Brits travelling to the Canary Islands will still have to present a negative COVID test on arrival because the region is currently operating a different entry requirement system to the rest of Spain.
The autonomous region has not fallen in line with mainland Spain and the Balearics, which have said all British tourists are welcome from today, without having to take a pre-departure test.
The Canary Islands says visitors who are staying at a tourist establishment, such as a hotel, apartment hotel or villa booked through a tour operator, will need to provide evidence of negative test taken within 72 hours of departure from the UK.
However, anyone staying in private accommodation, such as their own villa or one owned by a friend or relative, will not need to be tested.
The Canary Islands’ official tourism web page says anyone staying at a tourist establishment must: “Have a test for an active case of COVID-19 with negative result taken in the 72 hours prior to arrival in the Canary Islands.
“The test certificate is presented at check-in at your touristic accommodation.”
Children under six are exempt from the test, which can be a PCR, antigen, or TMA (Transcription Mediated Amplification) or LAMP test.
The Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce of the Canary Islands Government confirmed to Travel Gossip: “UK residents/Brits can travel from today (24 May 2021) to the Canaries, no health-checks at the airport, no COVID test required if staying at private accommodation.
“If staying at registered public accommodation (hotel etc) they will need a COVID test (antigen/PCR/LAMP, TMA).”
The Canary Islands is currently the only Spanish region where the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) says is safe to travel to, based on its COVID-19 safety assessment.
The FCDO currently advises against all but essential travel to the rest of Spain, including the Balearics.
However, the FCDO’s assessment is surprising, given that the latest figures show accumulated incidence rates of COVID-19 per 100,000 passengers is 18.95 for the Balearic Islands and 41.96 for the Canary Islands.
The latest figures were updated on 21 May, based on the previous seven days.
