International holidays to 47 countries are open

Monday, October 11, 2021

The international holidays to 47 countries are back on as they have been removed from the high-risk red travel list today.

Mexico, Thailand and Tunisia have all been removed from the travel ban list. The changes will come into force from 4am on Monday, the Government announced.

The passengers returning to England from countries not on the red list will not have to quarantine at a hotel.

Brits must still pay for a 10-day hotel quarantine package when returning to the UK if the country is still on the red list.

If passengers leave the quarantine hotel before their 10 days are up, they will be handed a £5,000 coronavirus fine, but this figure can increase up to £10,000.

Also from Monday, travellers who have been vaccinated in 37 new countries including Brazil, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, South Africa and Turkey will be treated the same as returning fully vaccinated UK residents. The travellers will also be able to save hundreds of pounds as a photo of lateral flow tests will replace pricey in-person tests.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said that with half-term and winter sun around the corner, we’re making it easier for families and loved ones to reunite, by significantly cutting the number of destinations on the red list, thanks in part to the increased vaccination efforts around the globe.

Restoring people’s confidence in travel is key to rebuilding their economy and levelling up this country. With less restrictions and more people traveling, they can all continue to move safely forward together along our pathway to recovery.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said that it was robust border measures have helped protect the phenomenal progress of our vaccination programme, and it is because of this success both here and around the world that we can safely open up travel further and we can visit friends and family abroad.

They are now making it easier and cheaper for people to travel by allowing fully vaccinated travellers from non-red list countries to use Lateral Flow Tests on Day 2 of arrival, as long as they provide proof of use.

More travel restrictions have been lifted in recent weeks in the United Kingdom, with the green and amber lists scrapped.

The Foreign Office has also scrapped the non-essential travel warning against 32 countries this week, including to Fiji, Malaysia and Bangladesh.

Brits no longer need a pre-arrival COVID-19 test when returning from a country abroad, and later this month, can take a lateral flow on day two instead of a PCR test.

An official date for the day two test rule change is yet to be given but ministers have confirmed they hope it will be in time for the October half term.

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