ARCHIVED - Blow for tourism as Spanish mainland remains on UK amber list

In positive news, the UK government has added Spain's Balearic Islands to its green list for summer travel.

The UK government has announced its updated travel list, adding the Balearic Islands, along with Malta, Madeira, several UK Overseas Territories and some Caribbean Islands to its green list - but the Spanish mainland has once again been left out.

The news will come as a massive blow to the Costas which have been desperate for the return of British tourists, the tourism sector dependent on it.

Israel and Jerusalem have also been added to the green watch list, which means travellers will not need to quarantine when they arrive or return from these countries, but will still have to pay for tests, while six countries, including Dominic Republic, Tunisia and Haiti have been put on the red list.

We’re adding Malta to the Govt green list 🟢

We’re also adding Madeira, the Balearic Islands, several UK Overseas Territories and Caribbean Islands (including Barbados) to the green list and green watchlist.

Israel & Jerusalem are also added to the green watchlist.

— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) June 24, 2021

The changes will come into effect from Wednesday, June 30 at 4am.

It's also noticeable that the words "green watchlist" are now entering Uk Govt. Covid vocabulary, a pre-warning that a country on green can be changed back to amber at very short notice, compelling holidaymakers who are already abroad to make a mad dash back to the UK in order to avoid the quarantine period, potentially adding significantly to the cost of the holiday as was the case in Portugal recently when ticket prices soared due to the sudden demand.

Revealing the updated travel list this evening, Thursday, June 24, Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps gave a little hope to Spain and other tourist destinations, tweeting: "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."

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 🟠

We’ll set out further details next month.

— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) June 24, 2021

There has been immense pressure on the UK government from European tourist destinations, including Spain, Italy and France, to be moved from the amber to the green list and for the scrapping of quarantine rules for people who have been fully immunised.

While Belgium has taken a different tack today and banned travellers from the UK from Saturday, June 26, over growing concerns about the Delta variant.

In regard to other countries in Europe, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Tuesday, June 22, that the government is working on quarantine-free travel to amber list countries for people who have had two doses of vaccine.

More than 60 per cent of the adult population in the UK have now had two jabs, and 83 per cent have had one.

"We're really getting through it now. The crucial thing is to come forward and get your second jab." said the PM.

Prior to today's crucial meeting for the tourism industry, he said he couldn't claim "that this summer for travel purposes is going to be like any summer", and without wanting to "cast a pall over things", it will be different.

While foreign holidays to amber list countries are not banned in the UK, holidaymakers are being advised to not visit those on the amber or red list.

Any tourists returning from an amber list country and expats in Spain visiting family in the UK must still self-isolate for 10 days, a measure which travel bosses argue is damaging the industry.

The next travel list update is scheduled for July 19.

IMAGE: Archive