France is “ready” to retaliate to the UK’s new quarantine rules by forcing any visitors arriving from the UK to self-isolate for 14 days.
The French government has said it “regretted” the decision of the UK government to introduce a quarantine on all international visitors, including those from France, from June 8.
According to reports, a spokesman for France’s interior minister has said France was “ready to put in place a reciprocal measure” for arrivals from the UK from June 8.
In a similar response to new quarantine rules in Spain, anyone arriving in France from Spain from Monday will have to self-isolate for 14 days.
The response follows confirmation on Friday by home secretary Priti Patel that anyone arriving in the UK will have to self-isolate for 14 days and fill in a form telling the government where they will quarantine.
It includes arrivals by air, ferry or train. Exemptions include arrivals from the Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands, or Isle of Man and certain medical, freight or agricultural workers. Anyone who does not comply could face a fine of £1,000.
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: “Holidaymakers aren’t going to be able to take trips where the quarantine period at both ends totals 28 days, yet some travel companies continue to hold customers over the barrel by making them pay balances for holidays that can’t go ahead, and airlines with flights still running refusing to refund passengers or re-book their trips for free.
“The situation is chaotic: airlines and holiday companies must be given clear FCO guidance on what dates it is appropriate to sell flights and holidays for.
“The government must also urgently produce a plan to support the travel industry through this crisis, so carriers and holiday companies can comply with the law and refund consumers without fear of going bust.”
