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Truth behind ‘Spain tourist ban’ and why it won’t affect your holiday this summer

LET’S be crystal clear. There is NO Spanish tourist ban.

Despite the fear-mongering headlines, there is not, and will never be, a ban on tourists.

Passeig del Born street scene in Barcelona, Spain.
Alamy
Brits should ignore the fear-mongering of a Spain tourist ban as it is just not true[/caption]
Apartment building with balconies and ornate detailing.
Alamy
The restriction is on holiday lets – so you can easily stay in other hotels[/caption]

To say otherwise is just total nonsense.

Last year, Spain welcomed more than 94million holidaymakers – bringing in an astonishing £106billion in revenue. Tourism generates more than 13percent of Spain’s GDP.

But with this booming industry, of course, comes issues.

The last few years has seen protests across mainland Spain, the Balearic and Canary Islands as locals frustrated by the lack of affordable housing take action.

In Barcelona, furious city dwellers fired water pistols at tourists eating in restaurants.

In Majorca, they posted fake closure signs on beaches and in Tenerife protestors chanted ‘This beach is ours’ as Brits sunbathed nearby.

The root of the issue is the lack of housing.

Protestors are furious at the huge increase in short term rentals like Airbnb, saying they are robbing residents of affordable properties.

In a bid to placate Spanish citizens, authorities are fighting back.

Malaga has introduced a new law this month, preventing the registration of any more new holiday rentals for the next three years across 43 districts in the city and across the Costa del Sol.

It follows similar legislation in Alicante and Madrid.

Putting the brakes on yet more apartments being turned into short term rental holiday properties is hoped to give locals a better chance of finding long term lets.

So the ‘ban’ is just that – no more holiday lets can be registered. Holidaymakers can continue to visit hotels, Airbnbs and other holiday accommodation such as villas as normal.

The ban will impact a small number of holiday rentals registered since February 2022 that share access and resources with permanent residents.

So this summer, we will continue to be able to enjoy the fascinating cities and golden beaches of Spain as normal.

While this is not a tourist ban, it could make it more expensive for tourists, due to a reduced number of accommodation options.

Barcelona is to introduce the strictest rule, with holiday flats completely banned.

Everything you need to know about visiting Spain

  • Brits must have at least three months left on their passport from the day they plan to leave the country.
  • Tourists do not need a visa if visiting for up to 90 days in an 180-day period.
  • Make sure your passport is stamped on entry and exit.
  • Travellers may be asked to show hotel booking confirmations and that they have enough money for their stay at the border.
  • Spain is one hour ahead of the UK.
  • The country uses the euro with around €10 working out to £8.55.
  • Flights to Spain from the UK take between 2-4 hours depending on the destination.

With more than 10,100 in the city, the full ban hopes to be in place by 2029.

The Spanish islands could also follow suit in the upcoming months.

Brits will instead have to stay at registered properties such as B&Bs and hotels.

We’ve rounded up some of the best Spanish hotels, including one that feels “more like Thailand”.

A hotel in Huelva was named the best all-inclusive resort in Spain last year, while this one has Maldives-style overwater rooms.

Here are some other Spain rules Brits need to know about as well, including additional personal information needed when checking into hotels, dress codes and smoking bans.

Aerial view of Cala Major beach in Palma, Majorca, with hotels and many people enjoying the beach.
Alamy
Spain will continue welcoming Brits this summer[/caption]

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World’s biggest aircraft dubbed the ‘flying bum’ FINALLY has date for takeoff with Spain and Arctic blimp trips lined up

THE world’s largest aircraft dubbed the “flying bum” finally has a take off date, with tourist trips to Spain and the Arctic already planned.

The project has already cost £140 million and suffered a crash landing, but the airborne giant is now on the brink of full production and could be ferrying people through the skies by 2029.

Airlander airship over coastal town.
Hybrid Air Vehicles
The huge aircraft could be the future of flying in Europe[/caption]
Illustration of an Airlander cabin lounge.
Passengers onboard the blimp will be travelling in luxury, with stellar views
Hybrid Air Vehicles
Illustration of an Air Nostrum Airlander cabin over a coastal landscape.
Hybrid Air Vehicles
The passenger cabin will fit beneath an enormous helium-filled balloon[/caption]

The 302 foot-long Airlander 10 is a hybrid between a plane and an airship – and is touted as the world’s most efficient large aircraft.

It is filled with helium for buoyancy and will float through the skies at 130km/h, powered by diesel engine propellers.

The blimp will treat passengers to a luxury experience, complete with en-suite bedrooms, fine dining and “horizon-to-horizon” views.

A factory in Doncaster has been lined up to produce 24 of the gigantic vehicles every year – which will create 1,200 jobs for the city and whopping annual sales of £1.2 billion.

The company behind the project, Hybrid Air Vehicles, boasts the Airlander will “transform what aircraft can do”.

But before the project can properly take off, hundreds of millions of pounds must be raised to keep the company afloat.

HAV thinks it will need an eye-watering £300 million over the next few years to break even.

Tom Grundy, the CEO, said “We’re done prototyping. The next step is multiple aircraft going through production.

“The sort of thing air taxis are going through now, we’ve put behind us.”

The plane’s “flying bum” nickname comes from its distinctive swollen rear end.

Its maiden flight was completed back in 2016 in Bedfordshire, but on its second outing the airship nose-dived into a field.

No one was injured in the accident, but the cockpit was destroyed and major repairs needed.

Since then, two huge inflatable “airbags” have been added, which are stowed during the flight and protect the cockpit on landing.

The ship will be able to fly through the skies for more than five days and can land on almost any surface – including “fields, tarmac or sea” – so does not rely on traditional airport infrastructure.

Illustration of an Airlander cabin interior concept.
Hybrid Air Vehicles
Inside the passenger cabin of the Airlander 10[/caption]
Illustration of an Airlander cabin bar.
Passengers will be treated to a fine dining experience
Hybrid Air Vehicles

Almost £2 billion worth of the airships have already been reserved, including by the Spanish company Air Nostrum – one of Europe’s largest airlines.

The first flights are expected to happen in Spain, with tourist trips to the Arctic also on the horizon.

Grundy said his company’s efficient aircraft will offer a solution for the aviation industry, which faces huge government pressure to reduce its carbon footprint.

He said: “We’ve got a path to taking 75 to 90 per cent of the emissions out of flying.

“There’s nothing else out there that can do that so imminently.”

Commercial airship travel stopped in 1937 after the Hindenburg disaster, when 35 people were killed in a crash.

Grundy said: “There have been many years of trying and failing to make airships work commercially.

“Helium brings all sorts of problems and means an airship needs to be really big because it takes a lot of volume to do the job.

“Our platform can be smaller, and smaller generally means cheaper so we can address different markets.”

Illustration of the Airlander airship flying over a coastal landscape.
Nikolas_Polatos
The aircraft will be able to touch down on land, sea or tarmac[/caption]

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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain keen on return to England with two relegation-battling Premier League clubs interested

FORMER Liverpool and England star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is keen on a return to England, SunSports understands.

The 31-year-old has endured a frustrating season in Turkey with chances limited at Besiktas.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of Besiktas dribbling the ball past Lars Lukas Mai of Lugano during a soccer match.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could be on his way back to the Premier League from Turkey
Getty

His return of one goal and six appearances is well below what he would have wanted at this stage of the campaign.

Reports in Turkey suggest the club’s new manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen to give the talented midfielder a chance, handing him just his second start on Sunday.

But Oxlade-Chamberlain, linked with Brentford last year, is attracted by the idea of heading back to the Premier League – where there is interest in the player.

Leicester and Wolves are both monitoring his availability ahead of the transfer window closing next Monday.

They believe his versatility and top-flight experience could be a vital addition to their squad as they battle the drop.

And Leeds in the Championship are also believed to be keen on the player if he becomes available.

The Yorkshire club think he could add the quality required to take them back into the Premier League.

Besiktas are likely to allow the 35-cap Three Lions international to leave on loan with a view to a permanent switch if the move works out.

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Back in the summer, SunSport revealed another Championship side are keen on the ex-Arsenal man.

Now more reports in Turkey state Sheffield United could be set to reignite their interest.

TRANSFER NEWS LIVE: STAY UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST MOVES FROM THE JANUARY WINDOW

If he joins the Blades, Oxlade-Chamberlain will play alongside former Liverpool team-mate Brewster, the 24-year-old striker who started his professional career with the Reds.

The pair were both part of the Liverpool squad that won the Champions League in 2019.

Oxlade-Chamberlain made 146 appearances during a six-year spell with Liverpool, during which the team won five trophies – including the Premier League and Champions League.

He joined Besiktas in August 2023 following his Anfield release and helped the team win the Turkish Cup last term.

But fiancee Perrie Edwards – with whom he has son Axel – revealed how him living in Turkey has taken its toll.

Speaking in April, she said: “I have to be honest – I’m not going to sugarcoat it – it’s blooming hard . . . it’s really hard. I’m struggling a bit with the Turkey situation.

“When he played for Arsenal it was great because he was just down the road. Liverpool, Manchester, not that bad, but Turkey!

“Turkey is a little bit further and the thing is they are so busy. They train every day practically.

“But do you know what? We make it work, because we make it work for the ones we love.

“So it’s fun, it’s exciting. It still keeps it fresh, I think.”

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Perrie Edwards at the BRIT Awards.
Getty
Oxlade-Chamberlain and Perrie Edwards have been together since 2017, the year he joined Liverpool from Arsenal[/caption]

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Coronation Street fans call out huge Leanne Battersby blunder – as they completely forget about tragic soap death

Woman on cell phone, looking concerned.

CORONATION Street fans have called out a huge Leanne Battersby blunder.

On recent episodes of the long-running ITV soap, viewers saw the character seek revenge against her sister and husband.

Leanne Battersby in a high-vis jacket picking up litter.
ITV
Coronation Street fans have hit out at the latest soap ‘blunder’[/caption]
Man proposing to woman in front of "LOVE" sign.
ITV
They claimed writers and soap bosses have completely forgotten about her former fiance Kal Nazir[/caption]
Man in a smoky room, leaning on a ladder.
ITV
He was previously killed off in a fire when he attempted to save Amy Barlow[/caption]

Leanne Jane Danson, was left heartbroken when her sister Toyah (Georgia Taylor) and husband Nick (Ben Price) get together.

She attempted to frame her sibling for fraud by setting up a bank account and claiming that she was stealing money from the family restaurant, The Bistro.

She found out that the pair were planning to travel to Tenerife for a holiday together and turned to desperate measures to put a stop to it.

On Coronation Street, Leanne then attempted to start a fire in Nick’s flat by putting their passports in the toaster.

However, fans have claimed writers are once again forgetting about the legacy of characters.

They claimed that Leanne would never intentionally commit arson because her fiance Kal Nazir (Jimi Mistry) was killed in a fire after he proposed to her in 2015.

On social media fan forum site Reddit, one user created a thread titled, ‘Leanne and Kal.’

The post read: “Am I the only one who thinks it’s bizarre that nobody mentioned Kal Nazir in Friday’s episode?

“Leanne should surely know better than to be starting fires, bearing in mind that Leanne’s fiancé was killed in a fire?

“And of course that fire was started by Leanne’s new best friend Tracy.”

It added: “The writers really need to pay more attention to the history of these characters.”

Fans couldn’t help but agree as they responded in droves, with one writing: “Kal in general feels totally forgotten, which is bizarre given that he was not only Leanne’s fiancé but also Alya’s father and Yasmeen’s SON.”

A second stated: “That is a very good point. Am I right that it is the same building that he died in?”

“I was thinking the same thing. Character time lines/previous life events rarely seem to be mentioned or referenced,” commented a third.

Most devastating soap deaths

SOAP viewers are frequently left heartbroken after watching some of their favourite characters bite the dust.

Here is a list of the most devastating deaths that have taken place in soapland over the years.

EASTENDERS

Barry Evans – Evil Janine (Charlie Brooks) lured her trusting fiance to Scotland for a quickie marriage after learning he was dying. 

Her plan to inherit Barry’s fortune was thwarted when Barry told her that the doctors had mixed up his medical files. 

Furious that she was no longer set for a windfall, she pushed Barry off a cliff after telling him their love was “fake”. 

Bradley Branning – Bradley was accused of killing Stacey Slater’s rapist Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb) after he punched him twice on the night he died. 

He was spotted in the Square by a police woman who chased him up a fire escape.

Bradley lost his balance and tragically plunged to his death. 

CORONATION STREET

Tina McIntyre – Tina was getting it on with Peter Barlow – despite him being married to Carla Connor.

When she threatened to reveal the truth, Carla’s brother Rob got into a physical altercation with her.

Tina lost her footing and fell off a balcony – then warned Rob she was going to tell the cops he pushed her.

In a panic, Rob brutally clobbered her over the head with a metal pipe.

Molly Dobbs – Molly was one of the victims in Corrie’s 2010 tram crash, alongside Ashley Peacock (Steven Arnold).

Married to Tyrone (Alan Halsall), Molly had been having an affair with Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell) in the months before her death.

This resulted in the birth of their son, Jack (Kyran Bowes), who was named after Jack Duckworth.

As fate would have it, Kevin’s wife Sally (Sally Dynevor) was by Molly’s side in her final moments.

Sally was stunned as Molly confessed Kevin was Jack’s father, before dying of her injuries.

Vera Duckworth – Having appeared regularly in Corrie since the 1970s, there was no denying Vera Duckworth was an iconic character.

Alongside her husband Jack, the pair formed one of the soap’s most beloved couples.

Viewers were heartbroken when Vera was killed off in 2008, being discovered having passed away peacefully in her chair.

Liz Dawn, who played Vera, made a brief return two years later for Bill Tarmey’s exit as Jack.

Paul Foreman – Fans were heartbroken when Paul Foreman succumbed to his illness after battling motor neurone disease.

Introduced in 2018 as David Platt’s (Jack P. Shepherd) cellmate, he later embarked on a romance – and marriage – with vicar Billy Mayhew.

The MND storyline was announced in 2023 – with the expectation it would result in the character’s death.

EMMERDALE

Sarah Sugden – After the family got into financial problems, Sarah’s son Andy (Kelvin Fletcher) decided to make some quick cash from an insurance company by setting fire to the Sugden barn.

He didn’t realise his mum was inside the building, and she got trapped in the blaze.

Nine villagers – The shocking 1993 plane crash episode brought in 18 million viewers for Emmerdale.

Mark Hughes was killed by a falling wall, Archie Brooks was burned by jet fuel, Elizabeth Pollard was killed by debris and newcomer Leonard Kempinski died in a car crash caused by the crash. 

Five other non-recurring characters from the village also died. 

HOLLYOAKS

Carmel McQueen – The talented singer died in shocking scenes when a train crashed into a her family’s car.

Carmel managed to free her cousin Theresa from the rubble – but got stuck in it herself.

Moments later the train exploded and Carmel died in the arms of her family members, promising to be their guardian angel.

Screenshot of a woman in a modern kitchen.
ITV
Leanne intentionally started a fire when she Nick and Toyah’s passports in the toaster[/caption]
A man crying in a smoky room.
ITV
Viewers claimed she never would have committed arson as Kal was killed in a fire[/caption]
A woman on a cell phone, looking distressed.
ITV
They warned bosses to pay more attention to the legacy of characters[/caption]

Coronation Street continues on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.

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