Eight destinations in the running to make the green list tomorrow, according to a travel expert

MORE green list countries are expected to be added to the list this Thursday, allowing Brits to travel without quarantining when returning to the UK.

One travel expert is claiming that up to eight destinations could be added to the list thanks to their low Covid infection rates and improved vaccine rollout.

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PC Agency's Paul Charles believes that both the Canary and the Balearic Islands in Spain could be added, along with Malta and Morocco.

The travel expert has said that both sets of Spanish islands could be added this week, and open from June 7 - the next date for the easing of travel restrictions.

The eight destinations which he has predicted could be on the list are:

• Canary Islands
• Balearic Islands
• Malta
• Morocco
• Finland
• Jamaica
• Barbados
• Grenada

Ministers are cautious about adding the likes of Spain, France and Greece to the safe list and allowing quarantine-free travel before next month.

Boris Johnson says the Joint Biosecurity Centre officials will have no hesitation in moving countries around the red, amber and green categories of travel restrictions if there is a spike in cases or new deadlier variants.

The PM added: “We’re going to try to allow people to travel, as I know many want to.

“But we’ve got to be cautious and we’ve got to continue to put countries on the red list, on the amber list, when that is necessary.

“The priority is to continue the vaccine rollout, to protect the people of this country.”

Insiders at the Department for Transport emphasised: “No one in the department has booked a holiday abroad.”

But the government is concerned about the amount of traffic that travels between mainland Spain - with its high Covid rates - and the islands, as well as the capacity for genomic sequencing in the Canaries.

Grenada and Morocco are both lower than the UK's daily infection rate as well, both there are similar concerns about genomic sequencing in these two destinations - a key factor when it comes to green listing countries.

Malta is one of the most likely candidates for being green listed, thanks to its high vaccinate rate - the country, which leads the European Union in coronavirus vaccinations, has reached its target of giving 70 percent of adults at least one dose.

Currently on the green list are just 12 countries, many of which remain closed to Brits.

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Only Portugal and Gibraltar are the popular holiday hotspots on the list which are welcoming Brits with few restrictions.

However, there is hope that more countries could be added this week, to open by next week, which has also been rumoured to include the US.

Mr Charles explained: "The next green list review is due by Thursday 3rd June with implementation from Monday 7th June.

"Several criteria determine a country’s colour but two are key: 14-day infection rate and ability to do regular genomic sequencing, to check for variants."

However, Brits wanting to book a holiday abroad should be aware that travel restrictions can change at the last minute, and to check their travel insurance for Covid protection.

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Only countries on the green list are able to skip the UK quarantine when returning to the country.

Amber list arrivals, which includes most of Europe, must self-isolate for 10-days at home, as well as pay for two Covid tests to be taken on day two and day eight.

Red list arrivals, which includes India, Turkey and the Maldives, must pay £1,750 to self-isolate at a government-mandated quarantine hotel for 10 days.

All UK arrivals must have a pre-arrival Covid test and one taken on day two of returning.

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Brits have already been heading to Spain despite it remaining on the amber list, after the country welcomed UK tourists without quarantine restrictions or tests on arrival.

Spain said they are remaining open to Brits despite countries like Germany and France banning UK arrivals due to the Indian variant.

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More countries are also likely to be added to the red list, according to a former BA strategist.

Robert Boyle has predicted British holidaymakers are likely to be banned from flying to Bahrain, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago and Kuwait due to their Covid situation.