Warning to Brits as popular holiday destination enforces new rules

Summer is almost upon us, you can see it there, teasing us on the not too distant horizon, beckoning us over.

With that rather vivid image in your heads, many people out there have already started planning their next holiday.

And after what's been a pretty damp and miserable winter over here in the UK, it's not exactly hard to see why; it's been grim.

But if you're thinking of jetting off for some sun in Spain this year, think again.

Many Brits have their sights set on their summer holidays. (Getty Stock Image)

Brits hoping to relax with their family or friends on the Iberian Peninsula have been warned about new rules introduced due to some serious weather issues.

That's because the country has been hit by one of its worst droughts in 200 years, with the hottest first quarter on record.

As a result, the authorities in Catalonia and Andalucía have been trying to find ways to mitigate water shortages suffered by residents, with restrictions on filling private swimming pools and watering gardens.

But while some of the rules have been relaxed, with pools opened again in some public baths and holiday sites, local residents are concerned it could put tourists off.

Speaking to Sur in English, Samantha Austin, who was representing thousands of tourist flats in the south of the country, where there were protests over the rules, said there are deep concerns that the rules being enforced could put tourists off.

Pools have bee out of bounds for many in Spain. (Getty Stock Image)

She warned that holidaymakers who come to Spain want 'a swimming pool and to have a good time'.

"I have many clients waiting to hear from me as they're deciding whether to come or not," she explained.

"If there is no pool, they are going to change their destination this year. We are having cancellations and we are going to have more."

It's hoped by many that the rules could be relaxed further to ease the strain on the tourist industry in Spain.

For example, the authorities in Costa del Sol and Malaga city currently ban the use of drinking water to fill pools, which means water from wells has to be used, which must then be filtered in the pool, leading to closures for several days.

A key meeting is set to take place this week to determine the next steps for managing the drought in Andalucia.

Holiday let owners in Andalucia have protested against the rules. (Getty Stock Image)

Obviously, however, it's not just the tourist trade that's been affected by the weather, local residents have had to adapt to the lack of rainfall.

One resident in Seville previously said: "It's the first time our well has gone dry in over 13 years.

"We are having to completely redesign our garden to make it more drought resilient. We've changed our vegetable garden to a fruit orchard, and we recycle the greywater from the washing machines by filtering it through three ponds."

This comes after Brits were warned about a new £97 rule if they wanted to holiday in Spain, which is all thanks to Brexit and new border rules that were brought in to play following the UK exiting the European Union.