International tourists visiting the Murcia region over the next year are being offered free travel insurance to cover COVID-incurred and other medical costs. The initiative will officially come into effect from Thursday 1 July, just five days after the Spanish government eased its year-long face mask regulations.
People in the whole of Spain are now permitted to go unmasked outdoors, provided they can maintain physical social distancing of at least 1.5 metres. This means tourists travelling to the Costa Cálida are no longer required to wear a mask at the beach or pool, apart from in communal areas and changing rooms.
It is still mandatory to carry a mask at all times if the 1.5-metre distance rule cannot be adhered to – such as in crowded streets – and when entering enclosed spaces including shops, restaurants, hotels and hospitals, as well as attending concerts and other mass gatherings. People are also still required to wear a mask when using public transport – including at bus stations, on train platforms and in airport terminals – and if travelling in a car with people from another household.
The COVID insurance policy was first unveiled by the regional tourism ministry in February as part of a comprehensive reactivation plan to help highlight Murcia’s reputation as a safe and high-quality destination that provides maximum health and security guarantees.
The coverage includes medical and pharmaceutical expenses and transport costs, as well as expenses incurred in having to prolong a stay in the region. It applies to both domestic and international tourists, and to members of the affected person’s family nucleus, and will be available for travel to the region until 30 June 2022.
The only condition is that holiday stays must be booked in officially regulated tourist establishments, in which case travellers will be automatically covered by the policy as soon as they have checked-in at their chosen accommodation.
Tourists who habitually reside in other countries will also have general accident and common illness coverage supplementary to COVID, whereas for Spanish residents the policy only covers costs associated with a COVID-19 infection.
Announcing details of the insurance policy (which can be viewed in more detail here in English), minister for the presidency, tourism and sport Marcos Ortuño said the government believed that it would help re-establish travellers’ confidence in the region, and offer them enhanced peace of mind when planning their holidays.
