GRANT Shapps has tonight revealed the list of countries where Brits can go on holiday from May 17 – with Portugal, Israel and Iceland on thelong-awaited green list.
The Transport Secretary announced at tonight's press conference that Brits can FINALLY get their foreign getaways booked in, but the list of green list areas is very short.
They include Israel, Singapore, Portugal, the Falkland Islands, Ascension, St Helena, Tristan da Cunha, Gibraltar, Faroe Islands, Iceland and Brunei.
And New Zealand and Australia are also on the list – but they have their own entry requirements and are unlikely to let in tourists at the moment.
France, Greece and Spain are NOT yet on the green list, meaning Brits will have to wait until at least June 7 to find if they can go on holiday there this summer.
Brits are advised not to book anywhere on the amber list, just in case things get worse and it turns red.
But it means that going on holiday will no longer be illegal from May 17, finally giving the go-ahead for travel.
Anyone coming back to Britain will still have to take a pre-departure test up to 72 hours before they travel.
It comes as:
- Grant Shapps said people with a vaccine could use the NHS app to show when they go on holiday after May 17
- People who do not have the app will be able to request an NHS letter from that date
- Border Force chief Paul Lincoln warned that checks that normally take 30 seconds could now last for up to 10 minutes
- Areas with high vaccine rates were put on the list, but others will have to wait until the next review
- TUI has announced £20 Covid test kits for Brits heading to green list countries, savings Brits up to £100 per person
- Flight prices to areas rumoured to be on the green list rocketed earlier – ahead of tonight's reveal
And Turkey, Nepal and the Maldives are to be slammed on the red list, Mr Shapps said tonight – meaning Brits coming home will have to quarantine in a hotel for 14 days and pay £1,750 for the privilege.
The news could put the Champion's League Final in doubt, which is meant to be held in Turkey between Manchester City and Chelsea.
Fans were told tonight they shouldn't travel to the game final in Turkey.
Mr Shapps revealed ministers were in discussions with football hosts, and said Britain was "open to hosting".
He said: "I'm afraid we are having to put Turkey on the red list. This will have a number of ramifications. First of all, it does mean with the regards to the Champions League, fans should not travel to Turkey.
"The FA are in discussions with UEFA on this. We are very open to hosting the final but it is ultimately a decision for UEFA.
"Of course the UK has already got a successful track record of football matches with spectators, so we are well placed to do it.
"We are very open to it but it is in the end a decision for UEFA to make, but given there are two English clubs in that final, we look forward to what they have to say."
The Government will also be publishing a green watchlist in the future, to provide an indication when a country is identified as a candidate for a changing country.
Transport Secretary Mr Shapps said tonight that the announcement "marks the first step in our cautious return to international travel" but isnisted the system would make sure "we don’t throw away the hard-fought gains we’ve all strived to earn this year.”
He added: "This is a new way of doing things, and people should expect travel to be different this summer – with longer checks at the borders, as part of tough measures to prevent new strains of the virus entering the country and putting our fantastic vaccine rollout at risk."
A handful of countries were given the green light in a new travel traffic light system based on jab roll out and Covid rates – meaning Brits can visit with just two tests on their return.
Only green countries will be quarantine free, with Brits able to avoid self–isolating for 10 days on their return.
Tests will still be required, with a pre-arrival test before returning to the UK, and a second test on day two.
The next review is set to take place in three weeks after travel starts again on May 17 – so June 7.
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