UK sets out framework to reopen international travel

Travel Biz News —

London : A framework to chart the safe return of international travel has been set out  by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps in London today.

Global Travel Taskforce sets out approach to safely restarting international travel. Recommendations include launch of a new traffic light system and ‘green watchlist’, and the introduction of travel certification .

A traffic light system, which will categorise countries based on risk alongside the restrictions required for travel, will be set up to protect the public and the vaccine rollout from international COVID-19 variants.

The report, produced by the Global Travel Taskforce, shows how international travel could resume from 17 May 2021 at the earliest, in an accessible and affordable way. This includes the removal of the permission to travel form – meaning passengers would no longer need to prove they have a valid reason to leave the country.

The UK is a global leader in genome sequencing, which in positive cases allows the identification of variants of concern.

The risks posed by these variants remain significant, and restrictions for inbound passengers, such as 10-day managed quarantine, home quarantine, and stringent testing will remain in place – but will apply to people differently depending on whether the destination visited is categorised as ‘green’, ‘amber’ or ‘red’.

Green arrivals will need to take a pre-departure test as well as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test on or before day 2 of their arrival back into the UK – but will not need to quarantine on return (unless they receive a positive result) or take any additional tests, halving the cost of tests on their return from holiday

Amber arrivals will need to quarantine for a period of 10 days and take a pre-departure test, and a PCR test on day 2 and day 8 with the option for Test to Release on day 5 to end self-isolation early

Red arrivals will be subject to restrictions currently in place for ‘red list’ countries which include a 10-day stay in a managed quarantine hotel, pre-departure testing and PCR testing on day 2 and 8.

Testing remains an essential part of protecting public health as restrictions begin to ease – with all arrivals who are not exempt required to book a pre-departure, day 2 and day 8 test before travelling.

According to a release issued by Department for Transport and  Grant Shapps MP  , arrivals travelling from ‘red list’ countries should book a quarantine package before departure, and arrivals from ‘amber’ and ‘green’ countries will be required to book test packages before travelling from one of the government’s approved list of providers.

“International travel is vital – it boosts businesses and underpins the UK economy – but more than that, it brings people together, connects families who have been kept apart, and allows us to explore new horizons. The framework announced today will help allow us to reopen travel safely and sustainably, ensure we protect our hard-won achievements on the vaccine roll out, and offer peace of mind to both passengers and industry as we begin to take trips abroad once again, “Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said.

To give passengers more certainty when travelling, a ‘green watchlist’ will be introduced to help identify countries most at risk of moving from ‘green’ to ‘amber’. The watchlist will provide greater assurance for those who wish to travel abroad.

To ensure the UK’s borders remain safe and efficient when passenger flows increase, the government has also announced plans to digitise the passenger locator form, integrating it into the UK border system and enabling checks to take place at e-gates by autumn 2021.

To further boost consumer confidence, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will be given additional enforcement powers to act on airlines that have breached consumer rights – with a dedicated consultation on how to use additional tools to enforce consumer rights expected later this year.

A COVID-19 charter will also be introduced from 17 May 2021, clearly setting out what is required of passengers and what their rights are while measures remain in place.

Red list travel ban countries include – Angola , Argentina ,Bangladesh ,Bolivia ,Botswana ,Brazil , Burundi ,Cape Verde ,Chile ,Colombia ,Democratic Republic of the Congo ,Ecuador ,Eswatini ,Ethiopia French Guiana ,Guyana ,Kenya ,Lesotho ,Malawi ,Mozambique ,Namibia ,Oman ,Pakistan ,Panama , Paraguay,Peru ,Philippines ,Qatar ,Rwanda Seychelles ,Somalia ,South Africa .,Suriname ,Tanzania,United Arab Emirates (UAE) ,Uruguay ,Venezuela ,Zambia , and Zimbabwe .

Anyone been in or through any of these countries in the previous 10 days will be refused entry to the UK, but it will not apply to  a British or Irish National, or anyone having residence rights in the UK. He must quarantine in a government approved hotel for 10 days. – (Inputs from gov.uk )

9 April , 2021

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