Travel bosses call for major expansion of green list destinations
Travel bosses have called for a major expansion of the green list of foreign destinations with no quarantine requirements after official data showed just one in 200 passengers returning from amber countries tested positive for Covid.
The Government is next due to review its traffic light categories on June 28 with just 11 countries currently rated green and most major European holiday hot spots still classed as amber.
But Karen Dee, chief executive of the Airport Operators Association, said that the figures from NHS test and trace were “very encouraging and show that a meaningful restart of travel can be achieved while protecting public health.
She added: “The data is timely, given the first review of the traffic light system is coming up. The UK and devolved governments should now ease restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers, introduce rapid and affordable testing and expand the green list.”
Virginia Messina, acting chief executive of the London-based World Travel and Tourism Council, said: “All the evidence is pointing towards double-jabbed Brits being given extra flexibility to travel and not face quarantines on their return from an amber country. Preventing those fully vaccinated from travelling more freely is costing the UK billions in lost revenue for the travel and tourism sector.”
Tom Jenkins, chief executive of travel trade body ETOA, said: “If the infection rate is as low as these numbers say then there is every reason to look at how we can open up London to foreign visitors. At the moment we have a multi-billion pound hole in the London economy where tourists should be.”
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