TUI Nederland Cancels all Trips to the Balearics, Canary Islands

Caribbean News Digital Newsroom

Tui Nederland has cancelled all trips and flights from Friday, July 16 to the Balearic and Canary Islands, in what can be described as a hard blow for island tourism in Spain, where thousands of Dutch people are spending their vacations right now. 

As of Friday, July 16, the Dutch government recommends not to travel to the two Spanish archipelagos at least until August 2. Spain was already in the orange zone and the archipelagos were an exception, remaining in the yellow zone. The same fate will befall Portugal and Cyprus. 

The high rate of disease spread has led the Dutch authorities to advise against travel to all the islands: Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera, in the Balearic Islands; and Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa, in the Canary Islands. "Unfortunately the Government and the rest of the authorities do not distinguish between islands, all will be orange," the company has reported.

Tourists who are on vacation right now can continue to enjoy their vacations. However, as of July 18, those who are not vaccinated will be obliged to present a negative Covid test before returning to the Netherlands. 

The decision of the Dutch authorities comes just one day after the United Kingdom decided to remove the Balearic Islands from its green list of safe destinations for travel due to the coronavirus.