Heathrow Starting Fast COVID Tests Gives Spain’s Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca Hope

Heathrow Airport COVID testing could start within weeks giving fresh hope to Spain’s tourist industry on the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca.

It is hoped that the  Two-test model could cut quarantine period in half,  allowing busy and lucrative London to New York routes to reopen next month. It also offers fresh hope to the tourist sector as a fast and accurate test could convince the UK to drop the quarantine on Travellers arriving from Spain- something that at the moment is crippling thousands of businesses across the country.

Hotels across the UK and Spain have reacted very positively to the government’s suggestion of trialling airport testing at Heathrow this month. With the coronavirus testing facility now on standby and ready to go, Heathrow’s chief executive John Holland-Kaye said that talks with Downing Street had been “progressive” and testing could be operational within a couple of weeks. One test would be performed on arrival (billed at €168-£150) with another five or seven days later.

The industry welcomed the news, albeit with ‘socially distant’ open arms. Remarks like “step forward”, “positive” and “about time” make up the majority of comments from CEOs, managers and directors of both large and independent hotel groups. Everyone involved argued that quarantine measures have been devastating for businesses and holidaymakers at home and abroad.

“Testing is the lifeline that the hotel industry needs to get back on its feet,” managing director of Red Carnation Hotels, Jonathan Raggett, said. “It gives global travellers the confidence to travel again, while simultaneously removing the need for economically damaging, long quarantine periods.”

As winter approaches and tourists are a rare sight, news like this gives hope for the future for both the UK and Spain’s tourism industries. Hopefully, all will go well and the familiar sight of British holidaymakers walking down Spain’s paseos will be welcomed once more.

For more Local Spanish News from The Costa del Sol or the Costa Blanca, head over to the Euro Weekly News website.