The controversial government traffic light system has been scrapped and replaced with a new, simpler system.
New rules around the coronavirus designed to make travel to the UK “easier and cheaper” come into effect at 4 a.m. on Monday.
In a move hailed by the travel industry, the traffic light system involving the green, amber and red lists will be removed, with locations classified as redlisted or not.
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People arriving from a red tier destination like Brazil, Mexico, the Philippines or South Africa will still need to spend 11 nights in a quarantine hotel priced at £ 2,285 for solo travelers.
Fully vaccinated – and unvaccinated residents under the age of 18 – from over 50 countries and territories can now enter the UK without needing to take a pre-departure lateral flow test, take a PCR test after the arriving on the eighth day costing around £ 65, or to spend themselves -Isolate at home.
Children under 11 were already exempt from pre-departure tests.
(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)
Transportation Secretary Grant Shapps said, “We are accelerating toward a future where travel continues to reopen safely and stay open for good, and today’s rule changes are good news for families, businesses and the travel industry.
“Our priority remains to protect public health, but with more than eight in 10 people now fully vaccinated, we are able to take these steps to reduce the cost of testing and help the industry continue to recover. “
The relaxation of quarantine and testing regulations – announced last month – has been welcomed by the travel industry.
Airlines and tour operators have been hit hard during the coronavirus pandemic and have accused the government of being too slow to relax and simplify the rules for international travel.
Tim Alderslade, Managing Director of Airlines UK, a trade body representing UK carriers, said: “Things are moving in the right direction and removing these restrictions will make travel easier and cheaper for people.
“We have seen a good response to the announcement in terms of bookings and given current trends, we hope to see more countries move off the red list and increased mutual recognition of vaccine status.
” There is still a lot to do. This is not a job done, and ministers should keep in mind that we remain an outlier on arrival testing for vaccinated passengers.
“In the short term, phasing out PCR testing by mid-October week is essential, and we look forward to clarification on the start date for this as soon as possible. “
No date has been set by which fully vaccinated eligible travelers arriving in England will be able to use a cheaper lateral flow test rather than a PCR version.
The Department of Transportation said the government “aims to put it in place when people return from vacation halfway through.”
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