Finally some good news for those that have been desperate to travel whether to see a loved one, for business or for a well-earned break. Today Grant Shapps finally announced some additions to the green list. Many of these countries should have been added weeks ago according to the Joint Biosecurity Centre, but at least we are finally seeing some positive signs for travel.
In this post:
Green list
The countries added to the green list are:
- Anguilla
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Balearic Islands: Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca, Formentera
- Barbados (see my articles and reviews here)
- Bermuda
- British Antarctic Territory
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Malta (see my trip report here)
- Madeira
- Montserrat
- Turks & Caicos Islands
These changes will take place from 4am on Wednesday 30 June.
These are in addition to the current green list countries:
- Australia
- Brunei
- Falkland Islands
- Faroe Islands
- Gibraltar
- Iceland
- Israel and Jerusalem
- New Zealand
- Singapore
- South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
- St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
The Scottish government says that it will undertake “close monitoring” of the situation in the Balearics over the next three weeks – meaning it could back on the amber list at short notice.
HOWEVER, most of the countries are on the green watch list which means they could be in danger of going onto the amber list.
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Balearic Islands
- Barbados
- British Antarctic territory
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Madeira
- Montserrat
- Pitcairn Islands
- Turks and Caicos
Red and amber list
These are the countries added to the red list, which fortunately only has a couple of tourist destinations on it.
- Tunisia
- Dominican Republic
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Uganda
- Mongolia
Exemptions for vaccinated travellers for quarantine from amber countries
Grant Shapps tweeted “Thanks to our successful vaccination programme, our intention is that later in the summer UK residents who are fully vaccinated will not have to isolate when travelling from amber list countries.” They will reveal more details in July. So very vague and far too late.
Tomorrow we will be looking at which major tourist destinations will let us in on the amber and green lists and if so, what are the requirements to enter.
12 comments
Where’s the US?!!!
Good question! I suspect it’s political and down to the fact they have committed to a joint task force to open it up together. I don’t think we will see that happening until mid to late August.
At this point the Gov has lost it’s final shred of moral high ground. If you’r going to let a bunch of fifa vips and 60k fans into the country without any need to quarantine but in thee same breath charge me hundreds of pounds in tests and threaten me with £10k fines and/or prison if I dont isolate when returning from one of those same countries then the whole thing has become a sick twisted joke where they’re sat there giggling and saying “hey, hey lets see if we can get away with this next”
Once they let the 1st fan in then tbh im tempted to travel and intentionally break the rules simply to challenge them in court.
60k fans coming in to the country = lots of potential income into the sports and hospitality sectors.
People coming home after spending money abroad (admittedly probably using UK travel sector to get there and back, but hotel, dining and tourist activities abroad is money sent abroad) do not represent extra income opportunities into UK Ltd, just virus import risks.
That’s the only reason I can think of for this decision – the economy has taken a hit, it needs help. Not from a few people coming in to see relatives and bringing in a virus with them; but to miss an opportunity like an organised, massive sports event might also be seen as daft.
And it’s not about cronyism or lining pockets for mates or any other similar load of conspiracy rubbish.
The outbound travel industry in the U.K. is worth £37billion to the country so not to be sniffed at!
Is that turnover or profit, Michele? How much of that is in this country?
If I book a package holiday with BA, a fair chunk of it will go to the hotel at the destination…
It is a huge sum, granted, but warrants further analysis.
Taking into account the rather large UK Outbound Travel sector figure Michele mentioned the cash is irrelevant to a degree. Our rights are being restricted whilst foreign visitors are free to come here ignoring laws( allegedly based on ‘science’) that would place me or you in prison or at least with a large fine if we did the same.
If returning Brits are nothing more than a virus import risk then what exactly are the 60k fans and the fifa execs and sponsors.
If all those fans and the execs and the corporate sponsors had to pay for all the same tests, do the same amount and type of quarantine as anyone living in the UK would have to do then i’d be fine with that. It’s the fact that they are all being exempted and by extension are being afforded rights, privilege’s and liberties the UK Gov is denying to it’s own citizens.
“what exactly are the 60k fans and the fifa execs and sponsors”
The same risk, but also additional incoming money.
Can you think of any other reason why this waiver is being put in place?
I’m not saying right or wrong, just putting forward the only reason I can think of for doing it.
Clayton, could totally agree with your comments ….double and triple standards ,so frustrating
I cannot see why Dubai remains red when almost everyone living there is double vaccinated and its the same here. they stopped flights from India etc at the same time as the UK to protect from the Delta variant. I had thought Dubai might go amber and at least allow the 1000’s of expats an opportunity to return to see family or family to visit them. there is just no indication when this might change and what the science behind it is.
The government still view it as a hub. Most experts are predicting to go amber by the next review or early August. Though it will be interesting to see the result of the legal challenge on how they are grading countries.
Totally agree. I think the powers that be may have over done it. Legal challenge on country grading. Legal challenge on “covid trials” for the sports, music and entertainment industries. ( otherwise known as the sports industry)
People seem to be finally waking up a little about the application of some of these rules and laws & just how adhoc they seem to be applied one moment but not the next
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