The vast majority of holidaymakers still think old Covid travel rules are still in place – despite most restrictions being dropped in February.
A poll of 1,000 travellers by Holiday Extras found that only 12% knew that most rules had been axed.
The last major UK travel restriction was dropped more than two weeks ago – the day-two test for vaccinated travellers came to an end on February 11.
A quarter (26%) said they didn’t know what the rules were; 25% thought the pre-departure tests were still needed; 10% thought the red list was still in use; 7% thought they had to isolate on their return; and 6% thought that every restriction, from red lists to day-two and day-eight tests, were still in place.
Matthew Pack, group chief executive at Holiday Extras, said: “Quite understandably after two years of constant disruptive changes to the travel rules, most UK holidaymakers haven’t yet realised that overseas travel is pretty much back to normal now.
“The government spent two years advertising the travel restrictions – it should fall to them, not our beleaguered industry, to let people know the restrictions have gone.
“With a handful of exceptions for countries that are still closed, mostly in Asia-Pacific, you can go on holiday right now almost as easily as you could before the pandemic.
“It’s important people don’t waste time and money navigating travel rules that have come to an end, or put off much-needed breaks because it’s still not clear enough that the old restrictions are gone.”
Some MPs have supported industry calls to axe the Passenger Locator Form which remains as the final hurdle for international travellers arriving in the UK.