Spain not included among safe destinations for UK travelers from May 17

Spain has not been included among the UK's green list of safe destinations for British travelers starting on May 17, but rather on its amber list. 

Other popular European destinations that fall into this category include France, Italy, or Greece. British prime minister Boris Johnson has advised against non-essential travel to these and all other amber list countries. 

To the disappointment of Catalonia's tourism industry, which has been severely impacted by the pandemic, the requirement of a 10-day quarantine on return from countries not included on the green list is likely to serve as a deterrent to many would-be UK visitors. 

Portugal, Gibraltar, and Israel are currently among the 12 countries on the green list of places Brits will be able to visit without having to self-isolate as long as they can provide proof of a negative PCR test. 

This news comes as Catalonia registered a 90% drop in tourism over the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. The sector usually accounts for 13% of the Catalan GDP.