Fully Vaccinated Britons will be Allowed to Travel to 140 Amber List Countries with no Quarantine on Return
July 8, 2021, 2:36 am

Fully Vaccinated Britons will be Allowed to Travel to 140 Amber List Countries with no Quarantine on Return

According to the Sky News, summer holidays are finally set for take-off as the government finally allows fully vaccinated travellers to avoid quarantine rules from later this month.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is making a long-awaited Commons statement tearing up rules that currently force passengers returning from amber list countries to isolate for up to 10 days.

The change, which is expected to come as early as 19 July, will open up Europe's top holiday destinations including France, Spain, Portugal and Italy - and tour operators and airlines are prepared for a surge in demand.

While the removal of quarantine for double-jabbed Britons returning from amber list countries is a boost for families hoping to head for the sun, holidaymakers will have to take PCR tests on day two of their return.

Though the changes will be widely welcomed by those planning a summer getaway, they could add up to £400 to a holiday for a family of four with additional pre-departure tests.

Adults who have not had both jabs will still have to quarantine when the return from an amber list country, or face a fine of up to £10,000 fine.

Skt News reported that ahead of his statement, Mr Shapps told travel industry chiefs: "Day two testing will remain for arrivals from amber countries, regardless of vaccinated status, as this provides genomic sequencing capability to identify the risk of importing variants."

It is also expected that PCR tests for holidaymakers returning from quarantine-free green list countries such as Malta and the Balearic island, will also remain in place for the same reason until at least 31 July, when the traffic light travel system will be reviewed for a second time.

The changes, being signed off by ministers on the cabinet's COVID-O Committee before Mr Shapps' statement, mean double-jabbed Britons will be able to travel to more than 140 countries on the amber list without quarantine on their return.

Most European countries are currently on the amber list, as are the United States, Mexico, Thailand and many Caribbean destinations. Some have restrictions of either quarantine - five days for Italy - or pre-arrival tests.

Countries on the red list - including India, Turkey and Brazil - will be unaffected.

Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy The PC Agency, has advised consumers to "lock in deals" before prices go up.

And EasyJet boss Johan Lundgren said: "For too long, Brits have been uncertain of when they can enjoy the same travel freedoms afforded by their jab as those in Europe and this is despite the huge success of our vaccination programme which has now successfully fully vaccinated around two thirds of UK adults.

"News on when quarantine will be removed for the double jabbed travelling from amber countries can't come soon enough."

Source: skynews

Image source: AP-skynews

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.