Spain, Portugal and Greece face further summer economic hit if vaccines delayed       

Economists said the variants, along with the slow rollout of vaccines in the eurozone, 'mean there is a growing risk of another summer tourist season being lost' and will deliver 'a huge dent in the Greek economy and substantially delay the recoveries in Spain and Portugal'

The new threat coming from new Covid variants would mean restrictions on foreign travel remain in place longer, even as domestic restrictions are lifted.

Large chunks of the economies in Spain, Greece, and Portugal will be severely disrupted for a second year if the new variants of Covid-19 emerge to threaten the summer tourist season, economists have warned.

Capital Economics in London said the variants, along with the slow rollout of vaccines in the eurozone, "mean there is a growing risk of another summer tourist season being lost" and will deliver "a huge dent in the Greek economy and substantially delay the recoveries in Spain and Portugal".