Holidays next summer to be ‘test free’ with no traffic light rules, says transport secretary – saving families hundreds
HOLIDAYS next summer will be ‘test free’ with no traffic-light travel restrictions, the Transport Secretary has said.
His comments follow the holiday boost given to Brits after 47 countries were removed from the red travel ban list yesterday, including Mexico and Thailand.
Asked if he foresees a “testless, traffic light-less” summer of travel next year, Grant Shapps said: “I very much hope so”.
He told Times Radio: “Having gone through this two years in a row, two summers in a row and, like many other people, experienced the shortcomings of a system that was able to change so quickly, I really do hope that this is the world going back to normal.”
He said the vaccine is “the answer”, adding: “The vaccine is the thing that’s enabled us to make these big changes on international travel as well.”
Yesterday he announced that just seven countries will remain on the red list, removing the majority of the destinations on the list.
He said: “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 our economy and levelling up this country. With less restrictions and more people travelling, we can all continue to move safely forward together along our pathway to recovery.”
More travel restrictions have been lifted in recent weeks in the UK, 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 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.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Our 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.
“We’re 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.”
The Government confirmed that passengers will be able to take pictures of their lateral flow test results to prove they haven’t caught Covid.
