Holidaymakers from Birmingham could be first Brits allowed into Majorca

A tourism chief has suggested creating an 'air bridge' between Birmingham and Majorca so returning travellers would not have to self-isolate.

The novel suggestion by Jose Luis Zoreda, vice president of the Spanish travel agency association Exceltur, would mean that sun-starved Brummies could be the first in the country to enjoy a summer holiday abroad.

His comments came just hours before Spain's director of health alerts, Fernando Simón dashed  millions of Brits' hopes for a holiday in Spain this summer.

He warned that while the country's borders would reopen to foreign tourists in July with no quarantine, all countries will have the rates of infection examined before citizens are allowed in.

This would see health chiefs examine the number of new infections in a country over the last seven days, and the countries transmission rates in previous weeks.

But 'air bridges' could allow the tourism and aviation industry to slowly reopen between regions of countries with low number of infections.

Tourism accounts for 12 percent of Spain's GDP, with 80 million people visiting ever year.

Now speaking to Spanish paper El Mundo, Mr Zoreda said Spain needed time to prepare for tourists.

“It doesn’t help saying the quarantine will be lifted in July, because it could be in July 1 or 31, and that is a difference worth tens of billions of euros," he said.

“To the man from Birmingham who wants to go to the Balearic Islands, you have to tell him in advance what he can do.

“First we have to communicate it to the British agencies and then they have to send him that information.”

And the tourism boss said a regional agreement should be sought if the UK and Spanish government cannot reach an agreement for safe travel.

The latest figures from public health authorities on the spread of Covid-19 in the United Kingdom show a much lower rate of infection in Birmingham than London.

Currently, according to government figures on numbers of confirmed cases, 3,425 cases have been recorded in Birmingham, compared to 26,840 in London.

He continued: “Madrid or London may have higher levels of risk, but why not establish a safe corridor, for example, between Mallorca and Birmingham?

"That is just one example, but the British market is essential for Spain’s coastal tourism.”

Portugal and France are also reportedly pushing for a joint deal with the UK to open up an "air bridge" for travel without quarantine.

The government are said to be keen on the  idea in order to revive tourism and save hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Now British ambassador to Spain Hugh Elliot has said the two governments "talk regularly " on the issue.

He said: “I hope that tourism will return as soon as possible in both directions, because I understand how important it is for the economy and employment, and of course the two governments talk regularly about the different aspects related to this very terrible pandemic.

"Still, it will be necessary to advance step by step, because the most important thing is the safety of all.”

Currently FCO guidance advises against all but non-essential travel to other countries.

And from June 8, travellers to Britain will have to isolate for 14 days or face a fine of £1,000, putting many off the idea of a foreign holiday abroad.

The new rules will apply to all returning holidaymakers - but will be reviewed every three weeks.

On May 22, Home Secretary Priti Patel told the daily Downing Street press conference: “The answer as to why we’re bringing in these measures now is simple: It is to protect that hard-won progress and prevent a devastating resurgence in a second wave of the virus."

Ms Patel said that now the peak has passed, steps to “guard against imported cases” must be imposed.