TUI, the first tour operator to force its tourists to test for Covid19
Faced with the trouble in the Canary Islands, the company requires its travelers to take tests, the cost of which will be assumed by the company
TUI Nederland will resume trips to the Canary Islands from October 31, after the Government of the Netherlands has reduced the travel alert to the archipelago from orange to yellow, which means that holiday trips to the Spanish destination are already allowed and that, when returning, tourists do not have to undergo any quarantine.
But the Dutch are clear about it and they are not going to risk it: those who want to enjoy a holiday in the Canary Islands will have to undergo a Covid-19 test to be able to board the plane. From TUI they have explained that they will assume the cost of the test in order to generate greater comfort and security for customers.
Thus, in order to operate its flights from this week, the tour operator has been forced to take this measure in the absence of regulations from the Government of the Canary Islands. The regional executive is still working on a new regulation that will force visitors to present in regulated accommodation establishments a test (PCR or antigens) that demonstrates that they are not infected with Covid-19 and that it has been carried out between 72 and 48 hours before reaching the Archipelago.
Arjan Kers, Managing Director of TUI Nederland has highlighted that there is a lot of enthusiasm to enjoy a break in a sunny destination, even more so now that the weather is starting to get worse in the Netherlands. “I am glad that it is possible to go on holiday to the Canary Islands again, it is the most popular winter sun destination for the Dutch tourist. In the past few months, we have worked hard to ensure a safe and responsible vacation for everyone. The hotels selected on site have taken all necessary and desirable measures and the Spanish authorities have issued clear guidelines. In fairness, we must say that many travelers will now feel safer in the Canary Islands than in the Netherlands, ”he says.
TUI will offer holidays on the islands of Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. The first dates of departure are Saturday, October 31 to Gran Canaria and Sunday, November 1 to Tenerife. On their website, they have enabled a special page with information on the Covid situation and on all the measures that have been taken at the destination. It also tells how and where to get the PCR test. “At the moment we absorb the costs of the tests to start the destination,” explains Kers.
