UK eases rules for vaccinated travellers ,8 destinations removed from red list

Travel Biz News —

United Kingdom has simplified rules for international travel keeping in view the success of the UK’s domestic vaccine rollout.

The Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, announced a simplified system for international travel in light of the success of the UK’s domestic vaccine rollout, providing greater stability for industry and passengers on Friday ( 17 Sept.).

Eight countries will move from the red list on 22 September and the rules for international travel to England will change on 4 October 2021.

Bangladesh , Egypt , Kenya , Maldives , Oman , Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Turkey will be included to the amber list from red list countries on 22 September this year.

The current traffic light system will be replaced by a single red list of countries and territories which will continue to be crucial in order to protect public health, and simplified travel measures for arrivals from the rest of the world from 4 October .

Testing requirements will also be reduced for eligible fully vaccinated travellers, who will no longer need to take a PDT when travelling to England from 4 October .

“From the end of October, eligible fully vaccinated passengers and those with an approved vaccine from a select group of non-red countries will be able to replace their day 2 test with a cheaper lateral flow test, reducing the cost of tests on arrival into England. The government wants to introduce this by the end of October, aiming to have it in place for when people return from half-term breaks.”

Anyone testing positive will need to isolate and take a confirmatory PCR test, at no additional cost to the traveller, which would be genomically sequenced to help identify new variants.

Testing for unvaccinated passengers from non-red countries will include pre-departure tests, day 2 and day 8 PCR tests. Test to release remains an option to reduce self-isolation period.

“From 4 October, England will welcome fully vaccinated travellers from a host of new countries – who will be treated like returning fully vaccinated UK travellers – including 17 countries and territories such as Japan and Singapore, following the success of an existing pilot with the US and Europe,” he said.

The government advised all not to travel red list countries or territories.

Under Red list rules , if a visitor has been  in a country or territory on the red list in the last 10 days , only a British or Irish National, or person with residence rights in the UK will be  allowed to enter the UK .

Visitors will have to take a COVID-19 test  in the 3 days before travelling , book a quarantine hotel package, including 2 COVID-19 tests and complete a passenger locator form before travelling  to England ,according to a statement issued by gov.uk

WTTC welcomes the decision

Meanwhile , London based World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC} said that the move to ease restrictions and open up more key destinations will help restore consumer confidence and get the UK moving again.

“We’re happy to see that the government has listened to our calls, with double vaccinated travellers no longer needing to take pre-departure tests, and that antigen tests will replace costly PCRs before the end of the busy half term holiday season, “ said Julia Simpson, President & CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

“While this is certainly a step in the right direction, for the UK to be real leaders, the government should adopt a system based on the risk of individuals, not countries. Placing whole countries on red lists is illogical, if you can keep the UK safe by checking an individual’s status, and allowing fully jabbed people to travel almost anywhere in the world safely,” WTTC said.

Red list  countries —

Afghanistan , Angola , Argentina , Bolivia , Botswana , Brazil , Burundi , Cape Verde , Chile , Colombia , Congo (Democratic Republic) , Costa Rica , Cuba , Dominican Republic , Ecuador , Eritrea , Eswatini , Ethiopia , French Guiana , Georgia , Guyana ,Haiti , Indonesia , Lesotho , Malawi ,Mayotte , Mexico , Mongolia , Montenegro , Mozambique , Myanmar , Namibia , Nepal , Panama , Paraguay , Peru , Philippines , Réunion , Rwanda ,Seychelles , Sierra Leone , Somalia , South Africa , Sudan , Suriname , Tanzania ,Thailand , Trinidad and Tobago , Tunisia , Uganda , Uruguay , Venezuela , Zambia , Zimbabwe          

17 Sept. 2021

Photo : WTTC