'Spain will be waiting for you from July' says prime minister
Spain is planning to reopen its borders to foreign visitors as soon as July 1, but it's still unclear if that means everyone.
The announcement was made during a press conference with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Saturday morning.
Visit TPG's guide to all coronavirus news and updates.
"As you know, Spain receives more than 80 million visitors a year. I am announcing that from July, Spain will reopen for foreign tourism in conditions of safety," said Prime Minister Sánchez. "Spain needs tourism, and tourism needs safety in both origin and destination. We will guarantee that tourists will not run any risks, nor will they bring any risk to our country."
Those 80 million visitors make up 15% of Spain's GDP.
The conditions of safety that Sánchez speaks of have not been officially outlined yet, but as of May 15, visitors to Spain are required to quarantine for 14 days. Additionally, it's unclear if there will be any restrictions for visitors from certain countries.
As more countries around the world begin to reopen, many are placing restrictions on international visitors or talking about forming "travel bubbles" with nearby countries. Greece, for instance, is planning to reopen for tourism on June 15 though as of now, non-EU citizens will not be permitted.
In terms of coronavirus, Spain was one of the hardest hit countries in the world with more than 28,000 deaths due to COVID-19. After two months of one the world's strictest lockdowns, the country began easing some of its restrictions in early May.
On May 25, the entire country will assess whether it's ready for either Phase 1 or Phase 2 of Spain's de-escalation plan. This means that many Spaniards will finally be able to reunite with friends and family. Starting on June 8, Spain's football league La Liga will finally be able to resume playing.
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.