Representatives of different regions of Spain are seizing the opportunity at the World Travel Market in London, to voice their opinions regarding the 90/180 day rule for British visitors to the country, requesting that changes are made to make visiting more flexible as it is affecting the economy.
Several discussions have taken place this week between authorities in Valencia and the UK about the possibility of extending the 90-day length of stay rule for non-residents in Spain that has come into force following Brexit, which coincides with the release of encouraging data for the Spanish tourism sector released this week, that shows a sharp rise in international travellers in September, and signs that tourism will quickly return to pre-pandemic levels in 2022.
Since January 1st, UK nationals who are non-residents of Spain can only spend up to 90 days in each 180-day period in the country, which is particularly affecting property owners and ‘swallows’ who have traditionally spent several months at a time in Spain and the Canary Islands.
The new rules are preventing the ability to do this and the authorities in Valencia are keen to lead the way and address this barrier to travelling to Spain, to encourage British visitors to return to the country for longer periods, as they are seen as an important part of the economy, particularly in the Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol, and the Canary Islands.
The president of Alicante’s Provincial Council, Carlos Mazón, met with the Spanish Ambassador in London, José Pascual Marco Martínez, to discuss the issue and possible solutions.
Explaining the importance of why the region wants to ease the existing travel restraints, Mazón said that, ‘British residents in the Province of Alicante are a source of wealth for us and one of our best ambassadors for increasing British tourism on the Costa Blanca, and I’m sure it’s the same in other regions.’
Mazón went on to clarify why the change should be made, by referencing the reciprocal rules, saying that ‘we are working on reciprocity so that they can stay for six months when they come to visit us because those are the conditions under which Spaniards can come to England’.
Following the meeting, Mazón said he was pleased to have conveyed his concerns, saying that ‘the meeting was very satisfactory, and the ambassador was made clear of the priorities of Alicante Province, which with its 70,000 British residents, is the most British province in Spain’.
The president of the Valencian government, Ximo Puig, supports the plea and has expressed his concern about the 90-day rule and the negative impact it has had on British homebuyers in the region, who previously had been a significant part of the house buying market.
Speaking at the World Travel Market in London this week, Puig said that he was in discussions with Spain’s Ministry of Tourism about making it easier for British nationals to spend more than 90 out of 180 days in the region without the need for a visa, saying that he fears that hundreds of thousands of Brits might now be put off coming to Spain.
He specifically referred to the ‘British residents in the Valencian region, who are future home buyers and people who come to visit their families.
Reyes Maroto, Spain's Minister of Tourism, assured Mr Puig that a task force including diplomats from both the UK and Spain has already been set up and that the embassy teams have been told to work towards 'joint solutions' on 'mobility' issues, without elaborating further.
One thing that is for sure is that any alteration to the rule will be how the 180 days is allowed to be used, but it will not increase above 180 days as for that you need to become a tax resident of the country.
