Monday, September 20, 2021
Brits can now start to book their Christmas holidays with confidence as the latest travel changes are set to last until the beginning of 2022.
Grant Shapps announced a simpler and cheaper travel system yesterday that includes scrapping the amber list and expensive PCR tests.
He said the reason why the government decided to change the rules is to make it easier for people to go abroad as most people have been vaccinated against COVID.
And Brits can be sure that if they book a holiday, they will actually be able to travel without the need of cancelling it, Mr Shapps said.
From October 4, fully vaccinated people will not need a pre-departure test before arriving in England from abroad as the green and amber list will no longer exist.
Unvaccinated travellers returning from low-risk countries will be required to take a pre-departure test, plus PCR tests on day two and day eight, and to self-isolate for 10 days on arrival, the government said.
Strict rules will still apply for anyone returning from countries on the red list, including a compulsory hotel quarantine costing £2,285 for solo travellers.
British Airways’ chief executive Sean Doyle also welcomed the changes and urged ministers to scrap all testing for fully vaccinated passengers as soon as possible.
EasyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren said this was a “welcome step forward” but also called for an end to the testing of vaccinated travellers from low-risk countries after arriving back in the UK.
Stewart Wingate, Gatwick Airport Chief Executive, said passenger locator forms should also be discarded.
After the changes were announced, there was a spike in holiday bookings, travel companies said.
Managing director of TUI UK Andrew Flintham said he has already seen an uptick in bookings for Turkey in October and expects customer confidence to be boosted further by the new rules.
Tags: bookings, Covid-19, Uinited Kingdom
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