UK drops testing for fully vaccinated travellers
People who are fully vaccinated will no longer need to take a post-arrival lateral flow test, which typically costs around ÂŁ20 each
Last updated 11th Feb 2022
From 4am today (11th February), the UK's rules for arriving travellers will be eased.
What will the changes mean for you?
People who are fully vaccinated will no longer need to take a post-arrival lateral flow test, which typically costs around ÂŁ20 each.
The requirement for unvaccinated arrivals to self-isolate will be dropped, but they will still need to take tests.
"Still a word of caution though, people need to be aware that things are probably not going to be straight forward to travel in 2022."
Tony Mann from Idle Travel in Bradford said:
"Still a word of caution though, people need to be aware that things are probably not going to be straight forward to travel in 2022, as its still quite complicated, different countries, requiring different restrictions in relation to vaccination."
"We've had a great start to 2022, with booking levels at 2019 levels, so pre-pandemic. That said, its going to take a number of years to make up for the damage that has been given to the travel industry over the last 18 months."
What impact has the easing of rules had already?
Hundreds of thousands of people are embarking on a half-term getaway as the UK scraps coronavirus testing for fully vaccinated travellers.
Travel trade organisation Abta described the easing of restrictions as "a new chapter" for the industry's recovery.
It said Turkey, Egypt and Portugal are among the most popular short-haul destinations, while departures to the US state of Florida, Dubai, Mexico and the Caribbean have sold well for longer-haul holidays.
Ski resorts in France, Italy and Switzerland are also in demand.
Stansted Airport told Abta it is expecting around 200,000 passengers to depart between February 11 and 18.
Cross-Channel train operator Eurostar said more than 125,000 people are booked to travel between the UK and the Continent during the school holiday.
The busiest day will be Friday, when more than 16,000 passengers are booked to travel.
Several services are sold out.
"Testing has been one of the biggest barriers to travel, so it's hugely welcome."
A poll of 2,000 UK consumers commissioned by Abta indicated that 64% of families with children under 16 say the limited opportunities to travel during the pandemic have made their holidays more important to them than before.
The travel association's director of communications Graeme Buck said: "Today's changes to the travel rules are the start of a new chapter for the travel industry's recovery.
"Testing has been one of the biggest barriers to travel, so it's hugely welcome that the process of travelling abroad is now much cheaper and easier for millions of UK holidaymakers.
"It's great to see so many families treating themselves to some quality time together this February half-term, and now that the UK's restrictions have eased we expect many more will feel confident to travel and will start to plan their summer break."