Denmark, Slovakia, Iceland and Curacao have been removed from the Department for Transport’s ‘travel corridor’ list, meaning those returning to the UK from the destinations must self-isolate for 14 days.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps made the announcement via Twitter, and the restrictions will come into force at 4am this Saturday (September 26).
There were no additions to the travel corridor list this week in the now regular Thursday evening announcement.
The Foreign Office changed its travel advice for the destinations shortly after Shapps’ Twitter announcement. It no longer exempts them from its blanket advice against all but essential travel. Caribbean British overseas territoy Montserrat was exempted from the blanket advisory.
Shapps reminded travellers returning from destinations which are subject to quarantine restrictions that they face fines of up to £1,000 for breaching the self-isolation rules.
Which? Travel editor Rory Boland said: “Consumer protections are breaking down over the FCDO’s advice. Package holiday customers should be offered a refund when the FCDO changes its advice to warn against non-essential travel, however some of the largest online travel agents are now refusing refunds for customers.
“These companies are taking their lead from airlines who have faced no consequences for doing the same for months. Consumers have been left footing the bill, dragging confidence in the travel industry even lower.”
Data shows we need to remove DENMARK, SLOVAKIA, ICELAND, and CURACAO from the Travel Corridor list. If you arrive in the UK from these destinations after 4am this Saturday, you will need to self-isolate for 14 days. [1/3]
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) September 24, 2020