It seems our summer holidays have been saved, after all! As double jabbed Brits gear up to open quarantine-free travel in amber list countries – it seems we might be slowly yet surely coming close to the light at the end of a very dark & long tunnel.
It might have taken a while, but Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is finally here with the long-awaited Commons statement that tears up rules that force passengers returning from amber list countries to isolate up to 10 days.
The celebratory change is expected to come as early as 19 July. If all goes according to plan, this will unlock more than 140 of Europe’s hottest holiday destinations, including France, Spain, and Italy.
Most European countries are currently on the amber list, as are United States, Mexico, Thailand, and many more tourist magnets. Travel agencies and airlines have also taken note of this and are currently preparing for a surge in demand.
These quarantine-free holidays in amber list countries are also a boost for families eager to make the most of their family holiday in the sun.
According to Mr. Shapps, children will be exempt from quarantine even if they are not fully vaccinated, but they too will have to take tests on day two of their return.
It is also worth noting that PCR tests for travellers returning from quarantine-free green list countries such as Malta and the Balearic Islands will remain in place until 31 July, when they review the UK traffic light system for a second time.
Countries on the red list of the UK’s traffic light system – including India, Turkey, and Brazil will be unaffected by this announcement.
Stay tuned for more news on quarantine-free travel and information about when international travel will resume.
