Spain is one of the most popular destinations for festivals and other tourism. However, it is unsure whether the country will welcome tourists and festivalgoers in 2021. The Spanish prime minister has said it’s only possible when 70% of the population is vaccinated by the end of the summer.
According to La Razón, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is convinced that if that proportion of the population is vaccinated against covid-19, Spain will be ‘progressively’ ready to host international tourists. Following this logic, it seems unlikely that tourists will be able to visit Mad Cool, Primavera Sound or FIB Benicàssim in 2021. Right now, to travel to Spain, you need to present a negative PCR test, even if you come by car.
Some optimism for tourism in Spain
A festival season in Spain will probably depend on the vaccination. Thankfully, there is also some good news. The country is the world’s seventh most efficient at vaccinating. Sánchez: “On 27 December, we started the vaccination process, and we are achieving our objectives. We want 70% of all Spanish people to be vaccinated this summer. This is the objective. The vaccine will be the motor of the economic recovery in 2021.”
In 2020, Spain lost 90% of their tourists because of the pandemic. Tourism is one of the most important parts of the country’s economy. The government knows how important this sector is, so they will put all effort in to make it possible.
Spanish festivals are still working on it
For now, it’s still impossible to say if there will be festivals in Spain this summer, or how will they happen. Yet, like the Prime Minister, festivals are optimistic. Primavera Sound is already sold out with its line-up for 2021, although they may need to move to a later date than their usual spot in June. Mad Cool has also confirmed many artists, with more to follow. In Bilbao, BBK Live is relatively quiet about its 2021 edition, while FIB Benicàssim wrote on its homepage: “FIB will strike back“.
Like last year, festivals will most likely not decide to cancel until the government does. While everything rests on that decision, there is hope to have a good summer. Whether international tourists are allowed to travel to Spain also depends on the vaccination and other factors. Europe contemplates the possibility of creating a ‘Covid Free Passport‘, which would allow tourists to vist some other countries. Spain defends that idea, so if this happens, why not have our favourite events return with all their tourists?
Mad Cool 2021
