A beach in Tenerife (PA)
(Picture: PA Archive)Spain has scrapped its outdoor masks rules in a boost for British holidaymakers hoping to get away for the half-term break.
The country had required mask wearing outdoors since December last year but as of Thursday, the requirement has been dropped.
Amid declining Covid cases and hospitalisations, the country’s Government said the measure was no longer necessary.
However, masks remain mandatory in indoor public spaces, including public transport.
"We said it would last only while it was strictly necessary," said Health Minister Carolina Darias last week.
Spain’s infection rate has fallen and the government considers the threat from Covid-19 situation to have eased, she said.
Mask wearing will still be compulsory at mass open-air events, in bars, cafes and restaurants.
While the move will bring some relief to tourists, some British families have found themselves cancelling trips to Spain over the country’s vaccination rules.
Mainland Spain and the Canary Islands require children over 12 to be double vaccinated to enter.
This means those who have recently turned 12 are unable to meet the criteria.
Tourism bosses in the Canary Islands estimate that the restrictions have lost them millions of pounds' worth of trade.
Jorge Marichal, president of the Tenerife Hoteliers Association, told the BBC he thought the Spanish government should change the rules.
He said: "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.”
Greece and Portugal have recently scrapped the need for a negative test for fully vaccinated Britons to enter, in a further boost for holidays abroad.
