'Still too early' to confirm quarantine-free summer holiday destinations
The government's set out plans for a return to international travel
Last updated 9th Apr 2021
Lots of people are hoping for a summer holiday this year and this morning the government's given us a bit more of an idea of how that could work, in England at least.
However, those in the travel industry say more clarity is needed on when international travel could re-start.
A provisional date of 17th May was set out by the Prime Minister back in February.
A traffic light system will be introduced, but testing for coronavirus will still be required for all travellers.
Green, amber or red?
Today Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has set out how that return could look.
A traffic light system, which will categorise countries based on risk alongside the restrictions required for travel, will be set up to protect the public and the vaccine rollout from international COVID-19 variants.
Key factors in the assessment will include:
- the percentage of their population that have been vaccinated
- the rate of infection
- the prevalence of variants of concern
- the country’s access to reliable scientific data and genomic sequencing
The report, produced by the Global Travel Taskforce, shows how international travel could resume from 17 May 2021 at the earliest, in an accessible and affordable way.
This includes the removal of the permission to travel form - meaning passengers would no longer need to prove they have a valid reason to leave the country.
The government says the UK is a global leader in genome sequencing, which in positive cases allows the identification of variants of concern.
The risks posed by these variants remain significant, the report says, and restrictions for inbound passengers, such as 10-day managed quarantine, home quarantine, and stringent testing will remain in place - but will apply to people differently depending on whether the destination visited is categorised as ‘green’, ‘amber’ or ‘red’.
How will the traffic light system work?
Green
Arrivals will need to take a pre-departure test as well as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test on or before day 2 of their arrival back into the UK - but will not need to quarantine on return (unless they receive a positive result) or take any additional tests, halving the cost of tests on their return from holiday
Amber
Arrivals will need to quarantine for a period of 10 days and take a pre-departure test, and a PCR test on day 2 and day 8 with the option for Test to Release on day 5 to end self-isolation early
Red
Arrivals will be subject to restrictions currently in place for ‘red list’ countries which include a 10-day stay in a managed quarantine hotel, pre-departure testing and PCR testing on day 2 and 8
READ MORE: Everything you can do from 12th April as lockdown restrictions ease
Too early to give us a list of destinations
The government says it will work with the travel industry and private testing providers ahead of international travel reopening, to see how they can further reduce the cost of travel for the British public, while ensuring travel is as safe as possible.
This could include cheaper tests being used when holidaymakers return home, as well as whether the government would be able to provide pre-departure tests.
They say it is too early to predict which countries will be on which list over the summer, and the government continues to consider a range of factors to inform the restrictions placed on them.
They will set out by early May which countries will fall into which category, as well as confirming whether international travel can resume from 17 May 2021.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:
"International travel is vital – it boosts businesses and underpins the UK economy – but more than that, it brings people together, connects families who have been kept apart, and allows us to explore new horizons.
"The framework announced today will help allow us to reopen travel safely and sustainably, ensure we protect our hard-won achievements on the vaccine roll out, and offer peace of mind to both passengers and industry as we begin to take trips abroad once again."
Travel firms aren't happy yet
EasyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren claimed the plan was "a blow to all travellers'' and risked "making flying only for the wealthy''.
He added: "As the rest of British society and the economy opens up, it makes no sense to treat travel, particularly to low-risk countries, differently.''
Mark Tanzer, boss of travel trade organisation Abta, said permitting the use of lateral flow tests would "make international travel more accessible and affordable whilst still providing an effective mitigation against reimportation of the virus''.
Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, the industry body representing UK-registered carriers, said the announcement "does not represent a reopening of travel as promised by ministers''.
Jet 2 say they are suspending all flights and holidays until the 23rd of June.
Customers yet to travel will have their bookings automatically cancelled and be given a refund.
Green 'watchlist' to be introduced
These restrictions will be "formally reviewed'' on June 28 to take account of "the domestic and international health picture and to see whether current measures could be rolled back'', the DfT added.
Further reviews will take place no later than July 31 and October 1.
A "Green Watchlist'' will be introduced to identify countries most at risk of moving from "green'' to "amber''.
For Labour, shadow transport secretary Jim McMahon said "proper details and clarity about strategy are vital'' - including on the criteria by which the traffic light system will be decided.
The Government announced plans to digitise the Passenger Locator Form to enable checks to take place at e-gates by autumn 2021.
It also revealed the Civil Aviation Authority will be given additional enforcement powers to act on airlines that breach consumer rights, after many passengers struggled to obtain refunds when flights were grounded.
What else is due to happen from 17th May?
21st June: Nightclubs could reopen
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21st June: Bigger weddings
STEP FOUR: Bigger wedding celebrations may be permitted from 21st June.
21st June: Mass events
STEP FOUR: If all restrictions on social distancing are lifted on 21st June, mass events including concerts and festivals will be allowed to resume.