Do you think the British will be more welcome in Spain/Italy/Portugal or the South west of England in July?

[ihatethecold]

Just pondering really, Our holiday abroad will be cancelled by the TA next week (Asia) and we've been thinking about whether we could have a week away in a villa in the welcoming, open places in Europe or Cornwall/ Devon?

Im not convinced that Devon and Cornwall actually wants anyone visiting?

I do understand why, I know they only have 1 main hospital.Im not here to criticise them for wanting to protect themselves. If the virus does become weaker and less virulent do the locals what tourism this summer?

Would we be more welcome in parts of Europe?

@Letseatgrandma I’d say on balance, while there is concern that we’ll get an outbreak, people are far more worried about the economic impact. Without tourism, the Algarve is fucked.

I suspect that, because the government has really done rather well in its virus response, people are feeling fairly confident that opening up can be handled, but we’ll see.

I see on the bbc news this morning that they are discussing an air bridge between the UK and Portugal.
We shall see.

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/03/air-bridge-linking-uk-to-portugal-may-be-agreed-by-end-of-june?utm_term=Autofeed&CMP=twt_gu&utm_medium&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1591178806

I'd definitely rather go abroad when it's safe to do so. I'd rather go to my garden than go to Cornwall/Devon. They would not be getting a penny of my money.

According to my colleague who is married to a Portuguese man, the Portuguese hate the English and think they are beery, druggy yobs even though I am sure Portugal is not crime free itself! She always hears this when she is over there.

The problem is that a few very vocal people in the south west (who don't rely on tourism for income and often are incomers themselves) claim to speak for all. My parents are retired but 60% of their town's income is tourism, businesses and individuals are close to bankruptcy - many are now letting (illegally) to non essential workers because it's that or hand the keys back to the bank. Shops have been creative eg my mums hairdresser comes to her. So ignore the idiots - someone put thumb tacks on the bike path last week because they don't like cyclists passing through, there's always nimby people!

@Scotinengland76 - please tell me when you spoke to "Cornwall" - wasn't aware that counties can speak on behalf of their whole population?

Everyone I know in Devon can’t wait for the tourists to come back once it’s allowed. We rely on the tourist industry.
We do have a number of visitors here at the moment who are clearly breaking lock down ... It’s those people the locals are annoyed with.

Can this be less personal?

Spain (like Greece, Cyprus and other places) are taking an objective judgement on the infection risk from each country. They don’t not ‘welcome’ visitors from the UK, they are waiting for our infection rate to pose less risk to them.

Harder for hol areas in this country because there is no border between them and UK visitors, so all the local councils can do is strongly advise people to stay away until they feel it is safe.

We all need to look after each other with common sense and consideration.

I live in the South West and am frankly appalled at some of the stuff I've seen on Facebook.

I know a few people who regularly holiday there who will no longer be doing so as a result of this. I know holiday home owners are vilified generally but I also know of at least 3 who will be selling up as soon as they can (one of them a family member). Some of them even said they would do all they can not to sell to a local either. They weren't being serious really but they have been very hurt at realising how they are perceived by a very sizeable minority if not a small majority after years of regularly visiting an area and thinking they knew and got on well with most of the people who permanently live there .

Why would people continue to visit somewhere they feel so unwelcome? I know I wouldn't

I was wondering this ...

www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/hope-for-a-summer-holiday-in-spain-slashed/

 The country is preparing to host tourist trials and open its borders on July 1 but Britons remain unwelcome 

Spain’s Tourism Minister has left the hopes of thousands of Britons yearning to return to the Costas in tatters today when she said the UK’s coronavirus infection rate “still had to improve” before they’d be allowed to visit.

looks like Bognor again ...

According to my colleague who is married to a Portuguese man, the Portuguese hate the English and think they are beery, druggy yobs even though I am sure Portugal is not crime free itself! She always hears this when she is over there.

Portugal has a huge drug problem! So the whole of Portugal hates the English? Jeez, we don't all go on holiday to get hammered and take drugs.

I never realised people wanted to be so loved when they went away.

People in tourism supply a service and are remunerated for it. Most do it with a smile on their face no matter their personal opinions.

I’m sure mechanics and soft play managers and shop assistants etc etc etc don’t clap their hands with genuine delight everytime enters their premises. Some custom you feel genuine affection for, others not so much. They generally get the same treatment.

bumblingbovine
If your friends have never had an inkling of this ill feeling before Covid perhaps it’s related to how people feel towards visitors in relation to the current crisis?

We just had a family opposite us come down to stay in their (not second home, because it’s not actually got planning permission yet, but building they own) for two days. To go to the beach. I wasn’t openly hostile but I’m not particularly impressed with them TBH.

I expect the attitude towards British travellers this summer will depend partly on whether or not there is a spike in infections from the raising of lockdown over the next month or so + a sense of whether testing + contract tracing are effectively implemented in this country. Countries who feel relatively confident over their own ability to handle the virus may be less enthusiastic over the influx of visitors from a country they have their doubts about. And at this point it won't be down to individual hotel or restaurant owners; it will be a matter for border control.

According to my colleague who is married to a Portuguese man, the Portuguese hate the English and think they are beery, druggy yobs even though I am sure Portugal is not crime free itself! She always hears this when she is over there.

I doubt very much that your colleague's husband speaks for all Portuguese people. I've been many times and never been subjected to any unfriendly behaviour, quite the opposite in fact.

That’s not how it works I’ve learned this spring listentoreason

If one person from an area is an arse then all people from said area are not only arses too, but hold exactly the same opinion! It’s weird.

Given that W shave the highest death toll so far in this crisis, I can’t see countries welcoming us with open arms tbh. Cyprus already said no thanks so I’m sure others will feel similar. However I get that they will want tourism to return so who knows

hatethecold Yes it is not just her husband's family saying that. Practically everyone she meets there!

Just seen the latest figures. I wouldn't plan on going anywhere just yet.

Spoke to a Swedish relative recently who was frothing at the mouth at the thought of UK and Sweden being singled out for exclusion by European destination. I told him that if there is a serious risk of us carrying infection to areas which are currently managing to hold their own, then I should jolly well hope they protect themselves.

Portugal has a huge drug problem!

Sorry, what?

Am I wrong I stating that Portugal changed the law so that drug use wasn’t an offence anymore to tackle the long term issues of drug use and criminalisation?

But forgive me if I am wrong

Spoke to a Swedish relative recently who was frothing at the mouth at the thought of UK and Sweden being singled out for exclusion by European destination. I told him that if there is a serious risk of us carrying infection to areas which are currently managing to hold their own, then I should jolly well hope they protect themselves.

Which is made a lot easier by losing freedom of movement ...

Am I wrong I stating that Portugal changed the law so that drug use wasn’t an offence anymore to tackle the long term issues of drug use and criminalisation?

You're not wrong about the approach, which has certainly improved things, but it was never that big a problem and it certainly isn't now.
And certainly not compared to the UK.

www.emcdda.europa.eu/countries_en