Beaches have reopened across Spain, except in the Barcelona metropolitan area. And in Bilbao, the Guggenheim Museum is welcoming visitors for the first time in months. With this, Spain hopes to revive tourism, which has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

Spain's tourism revenue was halved in the first four months of the year. When the country went into lockdown in mid-March, it also meant that no tourists could travel to the country at all. But from July onwards, there are hopes of luring them back.

”It is not about being the first to reopen, but about opening and knowing that we can guarantee the health of both residents and visitors,” said Industry and Tourism Minister Reyes Maroto to Telecinco TV.

Spain is the world's most visited country after France. Tourism accounts for one in eight jobs and over 12 percent of GDP. From July 1, the two-week quarantine requirement for foreign visitors will be abolished.

Source: TT