- Which countries are on the UK’s red list?
- The new Covid travel rules – and what they mean for your holiday
- Comment: The future of travel hinges on what happens this winter
- The 10 beautiful places that are tipped to come off the red list this week
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The travel red list is set to be slashed today with South Africa, Mexico and Brazil among the destinations tipped for removal.
As few as nine countries could remain in the category from which travellers are subject to a 10-day stay in a quarantine hotel at a cost of up to £2,285 per adult on arrival to the UK.
Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, is due to deliver an update this afternoon, which follows the removal of 32 countries from the Foreign Office advisory against all but essential travel due to Covid-19.
Travel rules were relaxed on October 4 when the green and amber lists merged and pre-departure tests were scrapped for return to England. However, the plan to replace day two PCR Covid tests with cheaper lateral flow tests is causing rifts in the Cabinet and has yet to be given a launch date.
It is expected that a much reduced red list will remain, leaving England with one of the strictest travel policies in Europe. Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association, said “It’s notable that some countries, such as Ireland, have decided to abandon hotel quarantine altogether and we would urge the UK to do the same”.
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10 beautiful places that are tipped to come off the red list
From the paradise landscapes of the Seychelles and Thailand to the unforgettable wildlife experiences of Africa, the very idea of hotel quarantine has served to shut off some of the world’s most exhilarating travel experiences. But thankfully that could all change following today’s government update.
Emma Beaumont has taken a look at 10 destinations we hope to see relieved of red list status, including:
South Africa
For many travellers, South Africa is at the top of the red list removal wishlist – not least because summer is approaching in the southern hemisphere. A total all-rounder, it’s easy to combine the cultural thrills of Cape Town with unforgettable safari experiences. Beyond the Big Five, you could opt to drive the coastal Garden Route, with its astonishing array of flora and whale-spotting opportunities. Another good way to traverse the country in style is via a luxury train trip. Two top operators based in Pretoria are Rovos Rail or the Blue Train, where your suite is a lounge by day, bedroom by night, and comes with a marble and gold bathroom.
FCDO lifts advisory against travel due to Covid for 32 countries
The Government has lifted its advice against non-essential travel due to Covid-19 risks to 32 countries and territories. Bangladesh, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana and Malaysia are among the locations for which travel advice based on has been relaxed, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said.
The UK will stop advising Britons to avoid all but essential travel to non-red list countries on Covid-19 grounds except in “exceptional circumstances” such as if the local healthcare system is overwhelmed, the FCDO added.
This will make it easier for people visiting those destinations to secure travel insurance and will allow tour operators to offer holidays to these countries.
Before Wednesday’s changes, the FCDO advised against non-essential travel due to the virus to 117 countries and territories. Advice is expected to be lifted for more locations in the coming days.
The FCDO said the change in policy follows the “improved public health in many countries” and the “decreased risk to British nationals” as a result of the vaccine rollout.
The countries tipped to move off red
South Africa, Mexico and Brazil are among the dozens of countries that are expected to br removed from the hotel quarantine list.
South Africa‘s seven-day case rate per 100,000 people is 16.6 while some 22.5 per cent of its adult population have received two doses of a Covid vaccine. It was first added to the list due to concerns over the beta variant. This has now been overtaken by the delta variant, which is also dominant in the UK.
Mexico‘s seven-day rate is 28.3 and 48.9 per cent of its adult population is fully vaccinated. Data expert Tim White is confident it will be removed.
South Africa and Mexico are open to UK travellers, with entry requirements in place.
Which countries are on the UK’s red list?
There are 54 countries on the hotel quarantine list, including much of Africa and Latin America.
From 4am on Wednesday September 22, eight countries were removed from the travel red-list, including holiday favourite Turkey. Other countries to come off the list included the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Egypt, Oman, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Plans to force travellers to film themselves taking Covid tests spark Cabinet rift
A Cabinet row is brewing over plans to force travellers to film themselves taking Covid tests on their return from holiday.
Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, is opposing the plans from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) as too bureaucratic and costly.
They are said to be backed by Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary, because of fears that travellers could fake results unless they are supervised taking the tests.
The disagreement centres on plans to replace the current PCR tests, which all vaccinated travellers have to take by day two of their return from holiday.
From the October half-term, returning holidaymakers will instead be able to use cheaper lateral flow tests, but – unlike PCRs – they do not allow for samples to be independently analysed by laboratories.