BRITAIN abruptly imposed a two-week quarantine on all travelers arriving from Spain after a surge of coronavirus cases, a dramatic and sudden reversal Saturday to the opening of the European continent to tourism after months of lockdown.

The British foreign ministry also advised against all but essential travel to mainland Spain, a move likely to prompt tour operators to cancel package holidays and trigger claims against insurers. Spain said Saturday it was a safe country with localized, isolated and controlled outbreaks of the coronavirus. A Spanish Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said Spain “respects decisions of the United Kingdom” and was in touch with the authorities there.

Britain’s opposition Labour Party said the news was “deeply concerning” and called for support for British people affected.

Spain’s Canary and Balearic Islands are not covered by the advice to avoid travel to the mainland, but holidaymakers returning to Britain from the islands will still be subject to quarantine on return. Transport minister Grant Shapps himself will be subject to quarantine, after a spokesman confirmed that he is currently on holiday in Spain.

The British move followed steps last week by other European countries. On Friday Norway said it would re-impose a 10-day quarantine requirement for people arriving from Spain, while France advised people not to travel to Spain’s northeastern region of Catalonia.

Spain had been on a list of countries that the British government had said were safe for travelers to visit — meaning tourists returning home would not have to go into quarantine. The announcement of such lists just weeks ago had allowed Europe’s tourism sector to begin to revive after the near total shutdown prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

But the abrupt travel restriction announced by Britain would have far more impacts on Spain’s tourism industry. Britons made up more than 20 percent of foreign visitors to Spain last year, the largest group by nationality. (CGTN)