Many Germans consider the Mediterranean island of Mallorca to be almost 17th state, because hardly any other holiday region is as popular as the Balearic island. It is therefore hardly surprising that there are flights to Palma from almost every German airport, at least during the holiday season. The lifting of the travel warning has now led to a real boom in new bookings for the Easter holidays.

For the hoteliers, airlines and tour operators as well as the local economy in Mallorca, it is of course gratifying that many Germans want to spend their Easter holidays on the Mediterranean island. However, it is also important to make clear that Spain regards the Federal Republic of Germany as a risk area and that both an electronic PLF form and a negative PCR test must therefore be submitted. Otherwise the hoped-for Mallorca vacation could end at the gate.

In Germany there is now controversial discussion that Easter holidays are very popular on the Spanish island, but at the same time the federal government is doing everything it can to prevent holidays in Germany. The accommodation providers should continue to be allowed to only accept business travelers. In a way, this is emblematic of the chaotic corona policy in Germany.

For the travel industry, the upcoming rush to Palma will be a test, because it can prove that safe holidays are possible without any problems even in times of Corona. At the same time, weak points can be found and eliminated before summer. Apart from that, airlines, hotels and tour operators are dependent on the income. The business can therefore hardly be missed.

Drinking tourists could cause trouble

The greatest risk, however, is that travelers' behavior contributes significantly to everything going wrong. This could, for example, start with disregarding the Spanish entry regulations and end with the establishment of a "Corona hub". It is therefore to be expected that the Spanish authorities will examine the negative PCR results particularly carefully, because the Balearic Islands certainly do not want to import new infected people from Germany. In the last few months there have been problems with falsified test results across Europe. This could also be a big topic at Easter, because in Germany, PCR tests are not easily accessible in all regions. The tour operator DER Touristik counteracts this and wants to cover the costs for new bookings for the Easter period.

Since Mallorca has also attracted drinking tourists in the past and problems with this clientele already arose in the summer of 2020, the concerns that it could be a complicated tightrope walk around Easter are quite justified. However, if everything works out, airlines, hotels and tour operators have many arguments that the harassing entry and quarantine regulations should ideally be lifted.

Finally, it should be noted that in recent months, many German media have spread the untruth that travel abroad is not allowed. There was never such a ban, only travel warnings that were issued so inflationarily that they have lost their deterrent effect. Apparently, many only worry that they will have to be quarantined when they return home.