France and Spain holidays saved but travel firms urge government to open borders
Fresh changes to the UK’s travel traffic light system to ensure holidays in France and Spain can happen this summer for vaccinated Brits, but many airlines and tourism companies are demanding faster progress.
From 4am on Sunday arrivals from France, if fully vaccinated against Covid-19, will no longer need to self-isolate at home for 10 days.
The UK Government also avoided putting Spain on the dreaded red list which would have meant hotel quarantine stays for arrivals back into the UK, in a huge relief for the industry.
Four more countries will be removed from the red list while seven more, including Germany, Austria and Norway will be added to the green list. France will join the Amber list meaning arrivals no longer need to self-isolate or quarantine if they are fully vaccinated.
Mike Tanzer, head of the ABTA travel association, reacted positively to the news but warned the UK is at risk of “falling behind our European competitors.”
He criticised the government for moving at “a snail’s pace – making it extremely difficult for travel agents and tour operators to generate enough income to kickstart a recovery.”
Johan Lundgren, chief executive of easyJet, echoed Tanzer’s comments by welcoming relaxations to travel rules which will save France and Spain holidays, but saying the airline is “disappointed at the double standards applied to travel versus the domestic economy.”
He urged the Government to rethink the travel testing regime which adds “unnecessary cost, especially for the fully vaccinated.”
Health Secretary Sajid Javid defended the government’s stance saying changes to the travel lists are “based on the latest data and expert public health advice” with decisions made to “help protect the success of our vaccine rollout from the threat of new variants.”