Journey information stay: Inexperienced listing replace introduced as new international locations additionally added to purple listing

The most recent modifications to the visitors gentle lists for worldwide journey to the UK have been introduced by the Division for Transport.

The announcement revealed that seven international locations could be upgraded to the inexperienced listing, whereas two will plunge from amber to purple.

Canada, the Azores, Denmark, Finland, Liechtenstein, Lithuania and Switzerland are all getting the inexperienced gentle; Montenegro and Thailand will transfer to the purple listing. The Scottish authorities introduced the identical modifications to its personal visitors gentle lists previous to the UK authorities’s announcement.

The Welsh Authorities has not but confirmed whether or not it would make the identical transfer.

Observe under for the newest journey updates:

Key factors

Present newest replace

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Warning over worldwide journey from UK makes it ‘costlier, burdensome and unsure’, says business physique

A spokesman for Airways UK, the business physique representing UK-registered carriers, stated the “small variety of inexperienced locations” is making worldwide journey from the UK “costlier, burdensome and unsure in comparison with our neighbours”.

He went on: “Too many households are having to look over their shoulders for rule modifications and pay by means of the nostril for checks, with no signal from authorities that this can change.

“As has already occurred throughout Europe, it’s time for a extra proportionate system the place checks are dropped for the fully-vaccinated and from locations the place Covid dangers are low, with more durable measures focused at a small variety of excessive threat international locations.”

Kate Ng26 August 2021 19:30

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Authorities wants to handle “the structural points which can be stopping individuals travelling”, says ABTA

The chief govt of ABTA – The Journey Affiliation has reacted to the newest journey replace.

In an announcement, Mark Tanzer stated: “The most recent journey replace offers some stability to worldwide journey in addition to reassurance for holidaymakers heading off to well-liked vacation locations over the approaching weeks.

“The Authorities now must focus its consideration on checking out a number of the structural points which can be stopping individuals travelling and delaying the business’s restoration. The UK could also be main the best way on the vaccine rollout however it’s lagging behind different international locations in terms of opening up worldwide journey and making it straightforward for individuals to journey. The Authorities can and will do extra to capitalise on the profitable vaccine roll out within the UK – our neighbours throughout the channel have been capable of journey with out restriction for fairly a while if they’ve been double vaccinated. The costly testing regime is placing individuals off taking a vacation abroad and is unnecessarily onerous when individuals are getting back from low-risk international locations.

“We additionally want the Authorities to recognise the influence the pandemic has had on journey companies and help them within the business’s restoration. Journey brokers, tour operators and journey administration firms haven’t had entry to the identical stage help as different industries but their alternative to commerce their method out of the disaster stays severely restricted by the Authorities. The top of furlough is an actual fear for a lot of firms and the Authorities wants to supply monetary help for the sector.”

The modifications to the UK’s inexperienced, amber and purple lists have been introduced earlier right now.

Lucy Thackray26 August 2021 19:29

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Which international locations are on the purple listing?

Following this afternoon’s replace to the UK’s inexperienced, amber and purple journey lists, two international locations – Thailand and Montenegro – are set to be added to the “excessive threat” purple listing from Monday 30 August.

Whereas the 2 locations have been downgraded from amber to purple, no locations moved up from the purple to the amber listing.

However which locations are excessive threat and what are the foundations? Right here’s every thing you might want to know:

Kate Ng26 August 2021 19:10

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Which international locations are on the inexperienced listing?

Following this afternoon’s replace to the UK’s inexperienced, amber and purple journey lists, there are actually 43 international locations in complete on the inexperienced listing.

These returning to the UK from these “secure” locations, which carry a decrease threat of Covid reimportation, can forgo self-isolation, however nonetheless must current a unfavourable Covid take a look at earlier than departure to the UK and a post-arrival PCR take a look at inside two days of getting into the nation.

Kate Ng26 August 2021 18:55

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Vacationer favourites Spain, Greece and Italy stay on amber listing

Most of Europe’s tourism massive hitters didn’t go inexperienced within the authorities’s newest replace of worldwide journey guidelines, introduced right now at 5.30pm.

Mainland Spain, Italy and Greece all remained on the amber listing within the newest reshuffle, which comes into impact at 4am on Monday 30 August.

Portugal, as soon as the one mainstream vacation vacation spot to attain inexperienced standing, additionally stays caught on amber, necessitating 10 days of quarantine and two PCR checks for all unvaccinated adults returning to the UK.

Kate Ng26 August 2021 18:40

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Journey business despair at continued ‘visitors gentle’ warning

Journey business bosses have reacted angrily to the newest spherical of modifications to the “visitors gentle” journey guidelines, which have been introduced by the UK transport secretary at 5.30pm right now.

Whereas there’s aid that key locations – together with some Caribbean islands and Morocco – have escaped the “purple listing,” airways and vacation firms are dismayed that restrictions haven’t been eased extra extensively.

Our journey correspondent Simon Calder has the complete story:

Kate Ng26 August 2021 18:20

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Grant Shapps: Newest replace ‘cautiously easing worldwide journey’

Kate Ng26 August 2021 18:04

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Thailand, Montenegro to maneuver from amber to purple listing

Thailand and Montenegro will likely be added to the UK authorities’s journey purple listing from 4am on Monday, reflecting the elevated case charges in these international locations.

In response to the DfT, the excessive charges of an infection mixed with decrease ranges of printed genomic surveillance in Thailand and Montenegro imply that an outbreak of both new or current variants can’t be simply recognized earlier than they’re imported and seeded throughout the UK.

Passengers arriving within the UK from purple listing locations should isolate for 10 days in a quarantine lodge and observe all vital testing necessities.

Kate Ng26 August 2021 17:56

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Canada, the Azores, Switzerland and others transfer to UK authorities’s inexperienced listing

From 4am on Monday 30 August, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Switzerland and the Azores will likely be added to the UK’s journey inexperienced listing.

The Division for Transport (DfT) stated the danger that journey from these international locations poses to public well being within the UK is low.

Travellers from these locations is not going to must quarantine no matter whether or not they’re absolutely vaccinated, however will nonetheless must take pre-departure and day 2 checks, in addition to full a passenger locator type.

Kate Ng26 August 2021 17:54

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‘Worldwide journey stays difficult’ says Scottish cupboard secretary

Scotland’s cupboard secretary for Internet Zero, Power and Transport, Michael Matheson, stated: “The most recent modifications are welcome for Scots with family members in Canada however as soon as once more present that worldwide journey stays difficult.

“Any relaxations to journey restrictions have solely been made potential as a result of large success of the Scottish Authorities’s home vaccination programme.

“It’s vitally vital we defend that progress by means of continued vigilance on importation, and we proceed to induce warning given the dangers brought on by variants of concern.”

Kate Ng26 August 2021 17:45