BRITS are eagerly awaiting their next holiday abroad, when the UK government allows it.
Many countries in Europe are also keen to have holidaymakers back, especially from Britain due to the success of the vaccine rollout.
Spain and Greece are leading the way in wanting to resume restriction-free travel through vaccine passports, with many hoping for a much more normal summer.
It is worth remembering that holidays abroad will only go ahead from May 17 at the earliest, with the government's Global Travel Taskforce to announce next month the official date.
Currently in place are a number of travel restrictions as well – most countries require a negative coronavirus test to enter, while Brits returning to the UK need three Covid tests as well as a mandatory 10-day quarantine.
Here is when countries want to welcome Brits back, without any travel restrictions.
Spain – May
Spain wants Brits back as soon as May, and vaccinated travellers are likely to be able to avoid quarantine and negative Covid tests.
Spain's tourism minister Reyes Maroto has said that the country could start using the vaccine passport in May, when the international tourism fair FITUR is due to take place in Madrid.
She told Antena 3 TV station: "We could be in a position to start implementing the digital passport (when FITUR starts on May 19)."
Pedro Homar, director of the Palma Tourism Board previously told Telegraph Travel: "With the rate in which the UK is rolling out the vaccination, we are confident that the UK market will be one of the first to return to Palma.
"In terms of timings, we expect the UK market to return from around May onwards."
Greece – May
Greece will welcome Brits back from May 14, with vaccinated travellers being able to avoid quarantine restrictions and negative Covid tests.
Greek tourism minister Harry Theoharis has been pushing for the return of Brits in recent weeks.
A senior tourism sector official in Athens told the Sun: “We’re in a race to get them, in fact everyone in Europe is in a race to get them.
"If 3.5 million come as they did in 2019, it will be fantastic for us.”
Non-vaccinated tourists will still be able to visit but will likely need negative Covid tests before travelling, and have to quarantine on arrival.
Cyprus – May
Cyprus is letting fully-vaccinated tourists into the country from May 1 with no travel restrictions.
However, they have confirmed that tourists must have both jabs, with the second one at least seven days before arriving at the country.
Other tourists will still be able to visit but will have to follow strict entry rules.
Portugal – now
The Portuguese island of Madeira has dropped all entry travel restrictions for anyone who has been vaccinated.
Anyone who can prove that they have recovered from the virus in the previous 90 days can also skip the mandatory tests and quarantines on arrival.
The rest of Portugal is not included in this, and it is the only country still on the UK's high risk list which means a mandatory hotel quarantine when returning to the UK.
France – no date given
The return of tourists to France has not been given any official dates, meaning a trip to Disneyland Paris may be off the cards for now.
They are yet to confirm if they will introduce vaccine passports to allow Brits to return, restriction-free.
Italy – no date given
Italy is yet to announce when Brits can return, and is even facing going back into strict lockdown.
Vaccine passports have not been discussed regarding holidaymakers returning to the country without needing tests or quarantines.
Turkey – June
Turkey wants Brits back by June with the vaccination programme beating a lot of Europe holiday hotspots, but they have no given any suggestion of vaccine passports from tourists to avoid entry restrictions.
According to The Daily Sabah, Turkey has also already been in talks with UK ministers regarding foreign travel, with the news website saying tourists will likely start flying into the country from June.
Turkey's tourism industry has also adopted the Safe Tourism Certification Program, a set of safety and hygiene measures the Turkish government introduced earlier last year.
Source: Read Full Article
