Spain is set to reopen to tourists from other countries from July, Mr Sánchez has announced. He added that the government will ensure tourists and locals are safe as the country battles to get back on its feet from a stringent lockdown.

The prime minister also announced a €3bn (£2.7bn) minimum basic income scheme to help households that were hardest-hit by the measures.

The scheme is set to come into effect in the next few weeks.

Mr Sánchez gave the address after a “car demo” led by far-right Vox party on Saturday.

The demonstration saw thousands of people protesting the government’s response to the pandemic crisis.

Mr Sánchez said: “As you know, Spain receives more than 80 million visitors a year.

“I am announcing that from July, Spain will reopen for foreign tourism in conditions of safety.

“Foreign tourists can also start planning their holidays in our country.

“Spain needs tourism, and tourism needs safety in both origin and destination.

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In a further announcement he revealed that football leagues could go back to their activities from June 8.

He added that there would be a 10-day period of mourning for the victims of Covid-19 starting on Tuesday.

Official figures show that over 234,000 people have been infected with coronavirus in Spain, while the death toll stands at over 28,000.

The country’s economy has also taken a blow, with unemployment increasing by 300,000 in March and almost 283,000 in April.

The newly announced minimum basic income is part of the government’s efforts to reduce poverty.

Mr Sánchez said: “It will cost around €3bn a year and will help four out of five people in severe poverty and benefit close to 850,000 households, half of which include children.

“Neither the government nor Spanish society is going to look the other way while our compatriots queue up to eat, as we are sadly seeing now in some parts of the country.”

Despite the current easing of lockdown restrictions, Mr Sánchez does not dismiss a potential two-week extension of the country’s state of emergency.

It would be the sixth extension brought in since the state of emergency was first declared on March 14.