In for the long haul

ANDALUCIA is hoping for a bumper year in long haul visitors with a host of top sporting and cultural events this year.

The Junta hopes to entice North American tourists to view events such as the Solheim Cup and other golf tournaments; SailGP sailing, the Davis Cup as well as the centenary tournament of the Spanish Basketball Federation, which will feature the USA basketball team.

On top of this, the Latin Grammy Awards coming to Sevilla , as well as an array of other cultural events, is hoped to attract the South American market.

Meanwhile the ETIAS tax that’s set to charge Brits €7 to enter the Schengen zone has been pushed back to 2024. The controversial measure has been bedevilled by delays, uncertainty and internal criticism. Applicants for the ETIAS form will have to detail their health history, criminal record and EU immigration history.

Taxes

With the ETA also coming in in 2024, the two reciprocal tourist taxes look set to come into effect at the same time. Visitors from Canada, the USA, Australia, Brazil, Japan and dozens of other countries will also be affected.

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Low class

CEO of Jet2 Holidays Steve Heapy has waded into a row over ‘low class Brits’. He has written to Lanzarote’s president, Dolores Corujo, asking her to clarify whether or not she wants British tourists to visit the island.

The president recently called for higher-quality tourists from places other than the UK. Heapy has called for Corujo to explain what she means by ‘higher quality tourism’. The British media has been infuriated by statements made by Corujo who said that the island should aim to attract ‘quality’ tourists from places such as Germany, France and the Netherlands.