Northern Ireland to scrap traffic light travel system as holiday bookings soar

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Northern Ireland has indicated it will follow many of England’s incoming COVID-19 rules on international travel, as holiday firms experience a surge in bookings.

The country’s traffic light system for international travel will change from 4 October with a single “red list” of destinations and a “simplified process” for travellers for the rest of the world.

Travel companies say they have seen an increase in bookings after the UK government announced the current traffic light system would be scrapped for England.

Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps revealed on Friday that the system will be replaced early next month by a single red list of destinations.

From that point, travellers arriving in England from red countries will have to quarantine in a government-supervised hotel.

Paul Charles, a travel consultant and founder and boss of the PC Agency, stated that the international travel changes are “major progress” and will help confidence.

Airlines including British Airways and EasyJet also welcomed the major relaxing of travel rules for people coming in and out of England.

But they increased the pressure on the government to remove testing requirements altogether.

From 4 October, fully vaccinated travellers from a number of countries, including Canada, Australia, Israel and New Zealand, will be included in the policy.

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