Hanging on the traffic light system is “a positive step forward”, but government Industry experts warn that faster progress is needed in opening up international travel.
As part of the latest update of the international travel system, four countries are being removed from the red list in England, and seven other countries, including Germany, are being added to the green list.
Also confirmed from France Self-isolation will no longer be required to align the country with the other countries on the Amber List. People entering from these countries will only need to be isolated at home if they have not been fully vaccinated.
However, these changes have aroused criticism from the Welsh government, which continues to advise against travel “except as necessary”.
Mark Tanzer, head of the travel association Abta, said that confirming France’s addition to the amber list is “positive”, especially during the “critical” school holiday period.
But he warned that the government “failed to take full advantage of the success of the vaccine launch”, took a “very cautious” approach to the green list, and “failed to relax travel restrictions, including multiple tests even when visiting low-risk destinations.” Requirements”. . “
He said: “As a result, the United Kingdom is lagging behind our European competitors, and the opening up of international tourism in the United Kingdom is proceeding at a snail-like speed-which makes it extremely difficult for travel agencies and tour operators to obtain sufficient income to initiate a recovery. Protect what is urgently needed for work, business and livelihoods.”
Karen Dee, CEO of the Airport Operators Association, said that the extension of the green list was a “positive step forward” but warned that the UK “is still a long way from a comprehensive and meaningful restart of international travel.”
Johan Lundgren, chief executive officer of easyJet, said: “The summer is now in full swing. This provides consumers with some assurance by maintaining the status quo of the main holiday destinations and adding some green list destinations for last-minute travelers. Great flight and holiday deals.”
But he added that the low-cost airline was “disappointed by the double standards of travel and the domestic economy.”
“Because the infection rate in most of Europe is still low, and the level of vaccination in the UK is high, if not now, it is difficult to know when most of Europe will really turn green,” he said.
Mr. Lundgren also called on the government to consider a travel testing system, saying it adds “unnecessary costs, especially for people who are fully vaccinated”.
According to the latest changes, India, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are being excluded from the high-risk category, which means that travelers from these countries will no longer need to be quarantined in hotels for 11 nights.
Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Slovakia, Latvia, Romania and Norway will be added to the green list.
Spain has always avoided being granted a red status, but the government urges travelers to conduct PCR tests before flying home from the country.
Mexico, Georgia, and the French overseas territories of La Reunion and Mayotte are joining the red list.
The changes to the travel list will take effect at 4 a.m. on Sunday.
The government stated that the cost of quarantining hotels is rising to “better reflect the increased costs involved.”
From August 12, the fare for solo travelers will rise from £1,750 to £2,285.
The bill for other adults sharing the same room will increase from £650 to £1,430.
Transport Secretary Grant Shaps stated that the government is “committed to using the results we have achieved through a successful vaccination program to safely open international travel”.
Sanitation Committee Sajid Javid Said that the changes to the travel list were “based on the latest data and expert public health advice”, adding that the announcement “demonstrates the need to continue to be cautious” and added content to the red list to “help protect our vaccines from successfully launching new variants” threat”.
At the same time, it was announced on Wednesday that it will provide Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines to 16- and 17-year-olds in the coming weeks-the only Covid-19 vaccine approved for use in the UK for people over 12 years of age.
After recommendations from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI), it was decided to extend the jab to under 18 years of age.
People 16 years and older who want to get vaccinated can get it without parental consent.
Ministers across the UK have accepted this recommendation, and the NHS is preparing to start providing the first dose of vaccine in the next few weeks.
In addition, Wales announced plans to increase its self-isolation support fee from £500 a week to £750 for anyone who has been told to stay at home through the Test Tracking Protection (TTP) service.
The latest government data shows that as of Wednesday, another 119 people died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19, bringing the total in the UK to 130,000.
Another data released by the National Bureau of Statistics of the United Kingdom shows that 155,000 people have died in the United Kingdom and Covid-19 is mentioned on the death certificate.
As of 9 am on Wednesday, there are still 29,312 laboratory-confirmed Covid-19 cases in the UK.
