BRITS with plans to visit the Balearic Islands this summer are warned that hotels could stay shut due to supply shortages.
Hotels on the islands – which include Ibiza, Majorca and Menorca – might not be able to reopen during the busy summer season.
A 20-day lorry drivers' strike has caused a shortage of pool supplies, which might force some Spanish hotels to remain closed if they're unable to get any.
Products like swimming pool skimmers, filters and chemicals needed to clean the pool water are taking months to arrive, according to hotels.
Many hotel pools cannot be used until current equipment is replaced, but the waiting time is six months.
Joan Puid, president of the Balearic Islands' chemical industry cluster, said: "There are hotels that closed in 2019 and because of Covid have not started getting into gear again until now, and after so long the water and swimming pool filters are in a poor state and need to be changed, but for some filters the wait is six months."
Mr Puid has predicted that some hotels planning to open between April 15 and May 15 will be forced to stay shut.
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He added: "We're in a race against time and we don't see an immediate solution."
It's not just a shortage of pool supplies that could delay the opening of Spanish hotels this summer.
The lorry drivers' strike has also caused a shortage of building materials, so some hotels are unable to progress with refurbishment plans.
Although the strike was finally suspended on Saturday, the knock on effect is still being felt, and might mean some hotels won't be able to open as scheduled and will have to cancel pre-booked holidays.
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Antonio Mayor, president of the Benidorm-based hotel association
Hosbec, said: "There are at least half a dozen hotels in our area that are being refurbished completely in the run-up to the summer.
"As it's been a few days now since the last deliveries of cement, this work is on the verge of having to be suspended.
"If it's not fixed soon it's going to compromise the end date of the work and, therefore, the reopening dates, and that could end up affecting existing holiday bookings."
In addition, Brits heading to Majorca have been warned they face bigger bills in restaurants and pubs as a result of soaring overheads for owners.
The strike has led to a shortage of commodities used to prepare dishes, such as olive oil.
But it's not all bad news for Brits visiting Spain as the country has relaxed its Covid rules.
Spain has ditched Covid testing and quarantine rules for anyone who has mild symptoms of the virus or those who are asymptomatic.
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The Canary Islands – which include Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria – have scrapped all Covid restrictions.
However, Spain has extended its Covid entry requirements until April 30, which means only vaccinated Brits or those who can show proof of recovery from Covid can enter.
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