Complexities still exist over travel regulations overseas despite the easing of UK Covid travel rules from today (Friday).
Fully vaccinated travellers will not need to take any tests before arriving in the UK and the need to quarantine has been abolished. Passengers will still need to complete a simplified passenger locator form confirming their vaccination status, travel history and contact details.
The travel red list will continue to “remain on standby” as the first line of defence against future variants of concern arriving from abroad.
However, the government is looking to replace the hotel quarantine policy with other contingency measures including home isolation – “provided a sufficiently robust digital solution to ensure compliance with home isolation can be found”.
Further details will be set out on this later in the spring, the Department for Transport announced.
The decision to remove testing requirements could save the average family around £100, according to the DoT.
The UK will accept vaccine certificates from an additional 16 countries and territories including China and Mexico. This will bring the total list to more than 180 countries and territories worldwide.
Advantage Travel Partnership chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said welcomed the relaxation of UK travel restrictions as a “day of celebration” after almost two of the hardest years on record for the sector due to the pandemic.
But she said: “Whilst the landscape is slowly becoming easier for travel, there continues to be a great deal of complexity and we are definitely not out of the woods quite yet.
“Travellers still have to face a minefield of confusing regulations, depending on their destination, regarding test requirements, quarantine and evidence of vaccination.
“Given this backdrop, we would continue to encourage travellers to always book with a human travel agent who can provide much-needed support and guidance on all travel matters, as regulations from country to country continue to vary hugely.”
The independent agency consortium boss added: “These complexities are even further evidenced when you consider the UK travel industry’s typical top ten destinations, including Spain, France, USA and Germany and the fact that none of these countries are open to all UK travellers. They are either still banning unvaccinated travellers, or asking all travellers to test, or both.
“Also there continues to be disparity across the EU on the validity period of when vaccinations expire, when a booster is required, and the age children require vaccination.
“Some countries require a negative Covid test within 24 hours, others 48, or even 72.
“Travel to the USA continues to be complex with individual states and territories having their own quarantine requirements. The same with Australia, the country finally opens up to vaccinated international travellers on 21 February, but Western Australia has delayed its plan to open up due to Omnicron.”
She warned that travel agents now have their work cut out to manage the surge in bookings, combined with keeping on top of the different, ever-changing regulations.
“These bookings are not going to fix overnight a travel industry that for two years was reduced to little income, but hopefully the value currently evident of using a professional travel agent is here to stay,” Lo Bue-Said added.
UKinbound warned that 2022 will still be “tough” despite a rise in business confidence.
Tui UK managing director Andrew Flintham said: “The recent changes to travel, particularly the removal of testing for everyone is who double vaccinated, is a huge leap forwards in getting travel back to normal.
“There remains a huge pent up demand for international travel and we’ve seen strong and sustained booking patterns since the announcement as customers look to go abroad with ease and without the added expensive of testing.
“As a result, bookings for February half-term and Easter holidays are comparable to 2019, with Mexico, Dominican Republic, Cape Verde and the Canaries the most popular destinations. And we expect this summer to be stronger than 2019 for the UK market.”
Jet2 and Jet2holidays chief executive Steve Heapy said: “There is strong demand right across the board, for all seasons, all destinations and all types of package holiday. Looking at the February half-term, for example, we have a programme of very busy flights taking off to destinations across the Mediterranean, Canary Islands and best ski resorts in Europe, and bookings have been flying in over the past few weeks.
“People want to get away for their well-deserved breaks after so long and that has translated into a surge of bookings which has continued since the government announced the loosening of travel restrictions at the start of the year.
“Over the past two years we have said that demand would come roaring back once travel started to return to normal, and that is very much the case. The UK Government has taken meaningful action to get travel back up and running, and it is good to see other countries take the same approach. We are very confident that 2022 is the year when international travel gets back to how it looked before the pandemic, and that is fantastic news for everyone.”
British Airways chief executive Sean Doyle said: “It’s great news that restrictions are being lifted in time for families to get away for a much needed break this half-term.
“We’ve seen a boost to bookings directly as a result of lifting restrictions and customers can now travel, safe in the knowledge that they won’t be burdened by expensive and unnecessary testing to return to the UK.
“We hope that other countries will soon catch up with the UK’s pragmatic approach.”
Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer said: “Travel rules have been holding people back from taking a foreign break so these changes should serve as a boost to consumer confidence, leading more people to plan and book their overseas trips.
“There are still steps people need to take when heading abroad and Abta travel agents and tour operators are on hand to guide travellers through the process.”
EasyJet chief commercial officer Sophie Dekkers added: “We’ve continued to see pent up demand each time restrictions are removed and UK bookings increased following the welcome reduction of travel restrictions, which has been sustained in recent weeks with a further boost from the removal of all testing by the UK government.
“We have been encouraged to see strong late bookings in the lead up to half term, which is a key time for many of our customers.”
Health and social care secretary Sajid Javid said: “As we learn to live with Covid-19, we are taking a balanced approach to opening up international travel and removing all tests for people who have played their part and have been vaccinated.
“Thanks to the millions of people who have come forward for their Covid-19 jabs, we are one of the most boosted countries in Europe and are able to take these steps today.”
Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: “The UK has eased international travel measures for Covid-19 and now has one of the most free-flowing borders in the world – sending a clear message that we are open for business.
“As our travel sector rapidly recovers, and we accelerate towards a future where we want travel to remain open for good, these rule changes coming ahead of half term are good news for families, businesses and the travel sector.”