Spain at World Travel Market: “We disagree with the 90-day rule for UK visitors”
Thursday, November 30, 2023 @ 8:10 PM
SPAIN is open to relaxing the so-called '90-day rule' for British visitors and holiday-home owners – although its national government is not sure it will have the powers to take any action.
Secretary of State for tourism Rosana Morillo (left, in blue jacket) and minister for industry, tourism and trade Héctor Gómez (right, in blue tie) arriving at London's World Travel Market (photo by Spain's ministry for industry, tourism and trade - MINCOTUR)
Minister for industry, tourism and trade, Héctor Gómez, and Secretary of State for tourism, Rosana Morillo, were recently at London's World Travel Market – one of the biggest holiday trade fairs on earth, and the UK capital's answer to Madrid's famous FITUR exhibition.
Whilst there, Gómez recalled that the UK is Spain's largest foreign tourist market, and said that all the signs pointed to its continuing to be so in 2024.
Spain, along with other key holiday countries in Europe popular with British nationals, feared Brexit would create a negative impact on their tourism industry, but Gómez and Sra Morillo confirm this has not been the case for the Spanish sector.
Still, Brexit has caused huge challenges for people in Britain who own holiday homes in EU nations, particularly those who have always spent significant amounts of their year in them, or who have family in EU countries they may need long-term 'access' to at any given point.
What is the '90/180' rule?
This is because, with the UK's departure from the EU, the nation became subject to third-country Schengen zone rules: Its residents are limited to 90 consecutive days within the European passport-free area in any 180 days.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com