Holidays: Expert on possibility of travel for vaccinated Brits
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Currently, travellers can only visit a limited list of countries quarantine-free, such as Iceland and Singapore. But several more amber list destinations may be added to the list with the introduction of a new double-vaccination rule, which may see British travellers able to escape mandatory quarantines under new plans being considered by Government ministers. So how will this work and which countries will open their borders to British travellers? Express.co.uk has all the details.
Holidays abroad are difficult to orchestrate given there are only 11 locations currently on the green list and therefore open for leisure travel.
Many travel experts have expressed fears the Government could keep the most popular holiday destinations off the cards over the summer.
However, Ministers are said to be “looking at all options” when it comes to travel restrictions.
One such measure being considered is removing the mandatory quarantines but instead enabling fully vaccinated travellers to undertake summer holidays abroad.
Officials are reportedly drawing up plans to allow people who have received both Covid jabs to travel without a mandatory quarantine period when returning from amber list destinations.
These travellers would still be required to undertake Covid tests.
The change would essentially mean amber list destinations would be equivalent to green list locations for those who have received both vaccinations.
This would open up the possibility of quarantine-free travel to most major holiday destinations in Europe and the US.
The proposals to ease these travel rules are in the early stages according to The Telegraph.
A senior source told the publication: “They haven’t definitely got there yet, but that’s the direction of travel.”
A Government spokesperson told Sky News it is “working with industry for a safe return to international travel, guided by one overwhelming priority – public health”.
The source added: “Recognising the strong strategic rationale and success of the vaccine programme, we have commenced work to consider the role of vaccinations in shaping a different set of health and testing measures for inbound travel.”
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The proposed scheme has been met with a mixed response with some appreciative of the chance for a summer holiday while others claim it is unfair and penalising poorer and younger people.
One person tweeted: “Double vaccinated travel needs to start! Thousands and thousands of people in the aviation industry are calling out for it to preserve jobs. It’s fair and makes sense! Many parts of Europe already have this rule!”
Another added: “Couldn’t agree more. Let us who are double vaccinated travel and get on with our lives without massively expensive testing and unenforceable quarantine.”
One person tweeted: “I am not rich, I don’t own a villa in Spain, Greece, Italy or Portugal. I don’t live in a rich area, I am young been double vaccinated and will be going on holiday. It is you trying to create a divided society with your idiotic point.”
Another wrote: “Leaking the idea that double vaccinated people might be allowed to holiday overseas in the summer is a cynical way of getting young people to have the jab. This is not a way to govern. We need more voting against the government as they all seem to be ****ing hopeless sheep.”
The financial secretary to the Treasury Jesse Norman said the Government is “looking at all the options here”.
Mr Norman told Sky News: “We don’t want to get left behind by countries which may be adopting a two jabs approach if it can be done safely and if it can be done carefully and securely.”
When asked if Britons should avoid travel abroad this year, he replied: “We are trying to move cautiously and progressively in the right direction, so I wouldn’t write anything off at this point.
“But then we are in a situation where the virus is not something we control and we have seen this new Delta variant, so it would be imprudent to make any carte blanche or firm statement now.”
The plans are expected to be discussed by the Cabinet Covid operations committee within the next fortnight.
Many believe it will likely be discussed ahead of a June 28 deadline when ministers have pledged to review the current travel traffic light system.
The particular exemptions such as whether there will be allowances for those who could not be vaccinated or if children under 18 will be exempt given they will not have been jabbed by July 19 have yet to be revealed.
So far, at least 33 countries have rules in place enabling vaccinated passengers to avoid quarantine:
- Ireland
- Portugal
- Spain
- Greece
- France
- Germany
- Iceland
- Cyprus
- Israel
- Estonia
- Seychelles
- Romania
- Lebanon
- Georgia
- Poland
- Anguilla
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Denmark
- Ecuador
- French Polynesia (Tahiti)
- Republic of Georgia
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Israel
- Lebanon
- Montenegro
- Nepal
- The British Virgin Islands
- Montenegro
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