Dragonfl y Traveller
Monday May 17 2021 will go down as a signifi cant day in the travel industry. As of this date, UK residents were legally allowed to travel abroad on holiday. Destinations from around the world have
been categorised as being green, amber or red, depending on their coronavirus risk and taking into account details such as how successful their vaccination rollout is, the number of cases, and if there are any emerging COVID-19 variants. T is means that those travelling to green list countries will not have to self-isolate on their return but will be required to take a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. T ey will only need to quarantine if they receive a positive result. At the time of going to press, there is still
discussion around whether we should even be allowed to travel to places on the amber or red lists for holidays. Current guidance from Health Secretary Matt Hancock is: “There must be an exceptional reason for travel to a destination designated amber under the traffi c light system. Government advice is very clear. People should not travel to amber list countries for a holiday.”
Where can you go? T e following countries are on the ‘green’ list: - Australia - Brunei - Falkland Islands - Faroe Islands - Gibraltar - -
Iceland Israel and Jerusalem
- New Zealand - Portugal - Singapore - South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands - St Helena - Ascension - Tristan da Cunha
What does this mean? Hotspots for UK holidaymakers, such as Spain and Greece, have not made the green list due to rising COVID-19 cases, so Portugal and Gibraltar will prove to be popular, according to Rob Gower of Dragonfl y Traveller. “If you are thinking about booking a holiday to
Portugal or elsewhere on the green list, airlines will take time to catch up with this announcement and any subsequent ones as more countries are added to the green list,” said Rob. “It takes around four to fi ve weeks for airlines to organise fl ights. T is means that any prices you pay now are likely to be expensive estimates. I would advise that you hold off booking until at least a month after any new country is added to the green list. T is means you will be paying actual fl ight prices and there will be
ALL THINGS BUSINESS 49
International holidays finally given the green light
a wider range of accommodation to choose from as places reopen, which should also bring prices down.”
Other destinations to look out for As we move into summer, Rob expects that we will see more islands added to the green list, such the Canaries and the Balearics, as they are isolated and reached by a direct fl ight. “Just because a destination is an island, it doesn’t necessarily mean it
is safe,” said Rob. “Make sure you do thorough research before booking any holiday abroad and look into possible stopover destinations, too. Far-fl ung destinations on the green list such as Australia and New Zealand may involve stopping at a country not on the green list, so investigate this carefully. “As vaccinations ramp up and other strains become apparent, these
traffi c light lists will change, and travel will remain complicated for the next 12 to 18 months. So, it is more important than ever to have a professional on hand to guide you through your holiday planning process and be at the end of a phone if you are confused by any of these new rules both before you go and during your holiday.”
Rob Gower of Dragonfl y Traveller works as a travel PA, building bespoke holidays and trips for customers. Call 01604 661100 or visit www.dragonfl
ytraveller.co.uk to fi nd out more
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