South Africa demands compensation from UK for economic damage caused by Covid travel red list in response to Omicron variant December 27, 2021 South Africa is calling for compensation from the UK for the economic damage the country suffered after it was placed on Britain’s Covid travel red list in November. South Africa’s Department of International Relations is demanding compensation after the movement of people was severely restricted, saying Africa’s largest economy took a serious beating because of [...]
Covid-19: Hotel quarantine guests allowed to leave with refunds after travel rule changes December 15, 2021 People confined to quarantine hotels in England have been allowed to leave this afternoon, on the condition of a negative Covid test, after the UK government removed all 11 countries from its travel red list yesterday, according to widespread reports. In a letter from the Department for Health, hotel guests were told they would be [...]
Red list to be scrapped from tomorrow, government confirms December 14, 2021 The UK Government has confirmed that the travel red list – which includes countries such as South Africa and Botswana – will be scrapped from tomorrow 4am, less than two weeks after it was introduced following concerns over the new Omicron variant. Testing measures will remain in place. Health secretary Sajid Javid confirmed the decision, [...]
UK airlines ask PM to remove travel restrictions as Omicron pushes shares down December 13, 2021 Bosses of major UK airlines have sent Prime Minister Boris Johnson a letter asking the government to remove travel restrictions , as stocks today continued to plummet. Easyjet, as well as British Airways’ (BA) owner IAG and Ryanair, saw their stocks go down 4.72, 5.29 and 3.46 per cent respectively because of fears of further [...]
UK travellers to face week-long waits for PCR results December 9, 2021 Those travelling during the Christmas period could face week-long waits to get their PCR results back. Travel testing company giant Qured said that PCR tests could face delays during the Christmas period because delivery providers work on reduced services. Fit to Fly and Day 2 PCR tests with an arrival date between 20 December and [...]
Follow WHO guidelines and rescind travel bans, airlines warn December 8, 2021 Airlines have called on governments to follow the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) advice and rescind travel bans. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents the global airline industry, the Omicron variant’s discovery induced “instant amnesia on governments which implemented knee-jerk restrictions”, going against the UN agency’s advice. “It is unacceptable that rushed [...]
Archbishop of Canterbury calls on government to stop “travel apartheid” December 7, 2021 The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has called on the UK Government to scrap the travel red list and put an end to “travel apartheid.” “With Omicron set to become the dominant variant in the UK, I appeal to the British Government to remove Nigeria and South Africa from the red list – together with [...]
Future of travel special: Pent-up wanderlust, streaming and, of course, a lot of tech November 16, 2021 After three strict lockdowns, the old adage ‘trip of a lifetime’ has never been more appropriate. Nearly two years into the pandemic, constant reminders of how precious life is have inevitably left their mark, bringing an increased awareness of what really matters, which is quite a motivation for many people to stop putting off that [...]
From the Isles of Scilly to Scotland’s Assynt-Coigach: Britain’s most scenic spots revealed November 13, 2021 Cornwall’s Isles of Scilly and north-west Scotland’s Assynt-Coigach are the UK’s favourite scenic destinations, according to a survey. It is the second year in a row that the Isles of Scilly – renowned for their white sandy beaches – were named the top area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. [...]
One night in Bangkok (quarantine): Thailand reopens to UK tourists November 1, 2021 After nearly two years of all but a trickle of foreign arrivals, Thailand is reopening to mass tourism, with travellers required to spend just one night in quarantine while they await Covid test results. Hundreds of vaccinated foreign tourists this morning arrived in the Thai capital for quarantine-free travel after the Southeast Asian nation approved [...]