Grant Shapps - People can start thinking about foreign travel

epm-84

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56682226

Short breaks to Europe are likely to be too expensive for many due to the testing requirements, regardless of whether the country has a green traffic light and regardless of whether you've been vaccinated.

GingerTim

Seems unlikely that the traditionally favoured European destinations (Spain, Greece, France, Italy) will have green lights any time soon, anyway. Plus the uncertainty of going abroad, the rules changing, and having to face mandatory hotel quarantine on arrival back in the UK.

andygb

I have looked at the "traffic light" system and it is absolutely mad, a complete mess. Spain and the USA are likely to be given "green" status, despite their high rate of cases and deaths. Also a pity that I couldn't link to an official govenment site for the information.

https://www.nationalworld.com/lifestyle/travel/which-countries-will-be-on-the-green-list-places-likely-to-be-open-to-uk-travellers-in-traffic-light-system-3189560

epm-84

GingerTim said:

Seems unlikely that the traditionally favoured European destinations (Spain, Greece, France, Italy) will have green lights any time soon, anyway. Plus the uncertainty of going abroad, the rules changing, and having to face mandatory hotel quarantine on arrival back in the UK.

France being a key one.  If France isn't green then most holidays to Europe by car, coach and Eurostar are out.

eskbanker

andygb said:

I have looked at the "traffic light" system and it is absolutely mad, a complete mess. Spain and the USA are likely to be given "green" status, despite their high rate of cases and deaths. Also a pity that I couldn't link to an official govenment site for the information.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/977298/Report-of-the-Global-Travel-Taskforce-web.pdf is the full report but unsurprisingly it includes:

At this point, it is too early to say which countries will be in the green category this summer. These decisions will be driven by the data and evidence at the time. The UK government will set out an assessment of which countries will fall into each category ahead of reopening international travel.

epm-84

andygb said:

the USA 

While I understand it would be a lot of work to have do the traffic light system on a regional basis rather than a country basis, with the USA, Canada and Australia it would make sense to look at an exception.

andygb

epm-84 said:

andygb said:

the USA 

While I understand it would be a lot of work to have do the traffic light system on a regional basis rather than a country basis, with the USA, Canada and Australia it would make sense to look at an exception.

Why? Covid doesn't respect borders. Canada has half the ratio of cases to the USA and Australia a tiny fraction.

Pollycat

andygb said:

I have looked at the "traffic light" system and it is absolutely mad, a complete mess. Spain and the USA are likely to be given "green" status, despite their high rate of cases and deaths. Also a pity that I couldn't link to an official govenment site for the information.

https://www.nationalworld.com/lifestyle/travel/which-countries-will-be-on-the-green-list-places-likely-to-be-open-to-uk-travellers-in-traffic-light-system-3189560

Doesn't the article say:

The following popular destinations have a slightly higher rate than the UK and may be allocated green status:

Spain (1,543 per million)

rather than 'likely'?

And JET2 appear to have already made a decision:

https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/air/jet2holidays-pushes-restart-date-back-to-june-24

k3lvc

And JET2 appear to have already made a decision:

https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/air/jet2holidays-pushes-restart-date-back-to-june-24

And this will still be the earliest date for them given Boris' planned announcement on June 14th

Any discussions re Red/Amber/Green before then are likely to be pure conjecture (and are obviously dependent on whether any of those countries will let Brits in to start with

epm-84

andygb said:

epm-84 said:

andygb said:

the USA 

While I understand it would be a lot of work to have do the traffic light system on a regional basis rather than a country basis, with the USA, Canada and Australia it would make sense to look at an exception.

Why? Covid doesn't respect borders. Canada has half the ratio of cases to the USA and Australia a tiny fraction.

Because the USA, Canada and Australia are huge compared to European countries.  Canada could in theory have a very high rate in Vancouver but a very low rate to the East, so if Vancouver was under local lockdown it could make sense to advise against travel to British Columbia with quarantine applying to those who do return from there but to give other provinces a green light.


You mention the US.  What are the cases like in Alaska, which has a land border with Canada but no land border with other US states?  (Hawaii should have an exception anyway due to being an island.)

MattMattMattUK

He said you can think about it, not that you can actually go. I can think about visiting 10 Downing Street, it does not mean I will be let in.