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No new travel corridors until January 7 in fresh blow for holidaymakers

cape town - Getty
cape town - Getty

No more countries are to be added to the travel corridor list until the new year, although there may be some “emergency removals”.

While announcing changes to the roster of quarantine-free destinations in his weekly update on Thursday evening, the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, confirmed via Twitter that there will not be any changes until January 7 at the earliest.

Tour operators have been left frustrated by the continued exclusion of holiday favourites, such as South Africa, Jamaica and Egypt, all of which have far lower weekly coronavirus case rates than the UK.

There was further disbelief at the removal of Namibia, Uruguay and the US Virgin Islands – all three of which were only granted a travel corridor within the last month.

It leaves Britons with just 23 holiday destinations that can feasibly be booked over the Christmas period, with Madeira, the Maldives and Chile among the places open to tourists and on the UK's quarantine-free list.

The new restrictions come into effect on December 19, meaning those returning to England will have to self-isolate for 10 days, or pay for the Government's struggling Test to Release service for the chance to leave quarantine after five days.

Scroll down for more updates.


04:22 PM

That's a wrap for today

Before we go, here's a re-cap of the day's main stories:

  • Covid testing facility opens at Heathrow 
  • Thailand relaxes Covid travel rules for 56 countries
  • Scotland’s ski resorts open this weekend, but it’s illegal for most people to visit
  • Christmas travel chaos in Australia as Sydney virus cluster grows
  • Austria looks set to go into third lockdown after Christmas 
  • Testing replaces quarantine on US-Netherlands flights

04:19 PM

Carnival Cruise Line take delivery of new ship

Carnival's newest cruise ship, Mardi Gras, has arrived at the Meyer Turku Shipyard in Finland for its official delivery.

From there, the 5,200-passenger ship – which also features the first rollercoaster at sea – is due to make its way to Port Canaveral in Florida, from where it make its maiden voyage on April 24.

Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy said: “I cannot wait for our guests and crew to see and experience Mardi Gras.  Notwithstanding the delays related to the pandemic, there is tremendous enthusiasm and pent-up demand for this ship.”


04:03 PM

How travel to Europe will change after Brexit, from passports to data roaming charges

Currently, under the transition arrangements, British travellers are exempt from Covid-19 restrictions which ban non-essential visits to the EU from most countries in the world, writes Nick Trend.

This exemption would automatically cease from January 1, so that, theoretically, all current travel corridors from the UK to Europe, Madeira and the Canary Islands would be closed, and it might be months before the infection rate falls sufficiently for normal arrangements to resume.

This would almost certainly put paid to the ski season in the Alps – Switzerland might be the only feasible destination to visit – and jeopardise Easter holidays in the Med.

Hopefully, some countries would allow exemptions – in winter, British tourists are vital to the economy of the Canary Islands and Madeira, for example. But it will be another heavy blow to airlines and the travel industry, which is desperate for certainty after nearly a year of cancellations. 

It looks as though we won’t know the full implications until the final decision of deal or no deal is made on Sunday.

In the meantime, here are the other changes – some certain, some still uncertain – which are relevant to British travellers after December 31.


03:52 PM

Europe set for tougher ski restrictions over Christmas

Austria is bracing itself for a third national lockdown from December 26, according to reports from the national news agency APA, with ski resorts facing orders to delay their openings once again.

Earlier this month the Government announced that skiing would be possible from December 24, reports Lucy Aspden. However under the new lockdown it could remain off the cards until mid-January. That is unless the decision to close resorts is given to local municipalities, based on the number of hospital beds available, according to reports by Austrian national newspaper Der Standard – an approach that has been adopted in neighbouring Switzerland. 

The new lockdown in Austria will reportedly last until January 18 and will last longer for anybody who does not get tested for coronavirus. Der Standard has suggested that only those who test negative will be able to come out of lockdown on time. The lockdown rules are set to resemble those that were imposed in Austria in November, with people required to stay home unless for certain reasons.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz called a meeting on Friday afternoon with other senior ministers and state governors, with an official statement expected later this afternoon.

"I do not hope that this will be left open for two days," said Erich Egger, spokesman for the Salzburg cable car industry and head of the Schmittenhöhebahn in Zell am See. "Either skiing is one of the sports that is also allowed in lockdown, or we are not allowed to open at all." 

Austria could soon be entering another national lockdown which would see ski resorts close again - Getty

Elsewhere in Europe, the Swiss Government has today ordered all restaurants, sports and recreation centres to close for a month from December 22. Its ski resorts are allowed to stay open and individual cantons are still in charge of whether they can remain so over the festive period – a final decision will be made by each state by December 22. 

Germany has already announced a national lockdown over the Christmas period, which limits family gatherings to just five people, cancels all carolling, parties and bans the drinking of alcohol outdoors. Its ski resorts are already closed. Meanwhile, France lifted its national lockdown on December 15, but ski lifts in the country remain at a standstill until January 7.


03:38 PM

Testing replaces quarantine on US-Netherlands flights

Passengers flying from Atlanta in the US to Amsterdam will now be able to bypass quarantine entirely thanks to one of the world's first state-sanctioned airport testing programmes.

Those flying with Delta Airlines must agree to Covid-19 tests on departure and arrival, but will be free to leave Schiphol Airport without needing to go into self-isolation should both tests come back negative.

Unfortunately, since the Netherlands is only allowing 'essential travel' from the US (and the same vice versa), only a handful of people will be able to take advantage of the scheme.


03:24 PM

Comment: We lost half our revenue in 24 hours – hospitality in London has been hung out to dry

I have loved my career of 32 years but this last year has been abominable, writes London-based hotelier Serena von der Heyde. The Georgian House in Pimlico was built by my great-great-grandfather in 1851 and I started running it at the age of 19, when my mum inherited it as a very run-down b&b. Since then, we’ve built it up in size and quality, and last September I decided to invest in a second hotel, the Victorian House in Grasmere. Little did I know what was to come. 

In March we had to make half of our team redundant, which was probably the most painful thing I’ve done. It went from 50 to 25. We have spent so much time nurturing and building people up, investing in training and development, and giving them confidence. Making them redundant is the antithesis of what we care about and want to do. That was just appalling; devastating and miserable.

Read the full article


03:12 PM

Man sets new ski world record... in Manchester

It seems desperate British skiers will do anything to get their slope fix, while ski holidays to Europe remain off the cards. Or at least one die-hard ski instructor from Manchester will, reports Lucy Aspden.

Callum Mackenzie set a new world record this week, for the greatest vertical distance skied up and downhill in 24 hours (indoors), at the UK’s longest indoor ski slope Chill FactorE where he works as an instructor.

The 26-year-old clocked up a vertical height of 12km over 24 hours, smashing the previous record by nearly 4km. In order to comply with the Guinness World Record rules, he couldn’t use the lift and had to climb the 180m slope each time, using ski touring equipment.

“The challenge was definitely a lot harder than I expected, both physically and mentally. I was a little bit naive going into it but I got there in the end and I’m just so happy to end 2020 on a high,” he said.


02:57 PM

Government issues more Christmas travel advice

The Government has published a warning for those planning to travel over Christmas, urging people to "carefully consider the risks of travelling at all".

The statement reads:

If you are forming a  Christmas bubble you should consider carefully the risks of travelling at all. If you live in an area with the highest level of protection, for example, tier 3 in England, you should avoid travelling to lower prevalence areas where possible.

If you have to travel, book ahead to enable you and others to travel safely and plan your outward and return journeys carefully. Once you arrive, you should stay local and avoid unnecessary travel within the area after you arrive.

You cannot travel to see your bubble before 23 December, or stay with them after 27 December, except in exceptional circumstances. For example, in the event of unforeseen travel disruption, or if a member of your Christmas bubble develops symptoms of coronavirus and you are required to self-isolate. This includes anyone travelling to or from Northern Ireland. However, where travel arrangements require it, people travelling to or from Northern Ireland may travel from 22 December up until 28 December.

Read more:  The latest Covid rules for December holidays


02:45 PM

How to drink like the French this Christmas

The festive meal is coming to an end. You are replete. The kids have cleared off – with luck, to join a circus, the military or holy orders. You straighten the paper hat and sweep away the last crumbs of stilton. The moment has come for an after-dinner drink, a digestif. As the name suggests, this will enhance digestion. Allegedly. Almost all French spirits were devised with health and long life in mind, for French pleasure usually requires a coating of earnestness. Subsequently, ­manufacturers downplayed the elixir bit, so as to embrace sensual sophistication. Cointreau even hired Dita Von Teese. This is the sort of input a festive food finale requires. 

For a festive drink, there is only one country to consider - Dominic James

But it needs preparation. Look in your drinks cabinet. Skulking within will be stuff green, blue and maybe even yellow, which seemed OK in Bulgaria, the Alps or on Corfu but has been a sordid secret ever since. My cupboard contains gentiane-d’Auvergne, génépi noir and crème-de-myrtille, each containing the entire sugar production of a Caribbean isle, each a reminder of insane 20th-century optimism.

To guide people in a better direction, here’s a round-up of 10 of France’s more renowned digestifs. It also whisks us about that country, end to end. Win-win, then.

See the full list


02:31 PM

It's very quiet at Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport

paris - bloomburg
paris - bloomberg
paris - bloomberg

02:20 PM

British Airways owner strikes cut-price deal for Air Europa

British Airways’ owner has agreed to buy a Spanish airline previously worth €1bn – but will not need to hand over any money for up to six years.

IAG, the airlines group that also owns flag carriers Aer Lingus and Iberia, has reportedly agreed a cut-price €500m deal to acquire Air Europa.

The company refused to drop the deal despite cutting 10,000 jobs to save money after the pandemic crippled its finances. 

The swoop for Air Europa was one of the final moves by long-term boss Willie Walsh before he retired in September to boost IAG’s presence in Latin America. 

Oliver Gill has the story.


02:11 PM

‘The Viking in my blood yearned for release’ – Kathy Lette explores Copenhagen with Sandi Toksvig

Katty Lette returned to her Norse roots when visiting Denmark. She writes:

Hygge, of course, is the Danish concept of warm, convivial fun with friends – “when you feel as comfortable in company as you would be on your own”, my dear pal Sandi Toksvig explained to me as we sipped whiskeys in the seaside moonlight, as snugly cocooned in camaraderie as we were by our woolly onesies.

Throw in the constant passing parade of tall, blonde, blue-eyed Nordic love gods (or goddesses, in Sandi’s case) beaming our way and, well, all I could think was – there’s absolutely nothing rotten in the state of Denmark. I’ve always wanted to get in touch with my inner Viking. Not only is my best pal Danish, but my great grandfather was Norwegian.

The Viking mingling in my blood was yearning for release. Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark, is also an Aussie, so surely I’d be able to crack the Norse code?

Find out here.

denmark - geoff pugh

01:55 PM

Austria looks set to go into third lockdown after Christmas

Today has seen a lot of discussions around the prospect of third lockdowns across Europe.

In the UK the schools minister refused to rule out the prospect, while Northern Ireland is set to enter a six-week shutdown after Christmas and the Swiss Health Minister is expected to ask cabinet colleagues to close restaurants for a month today.

It has now been reported by national media that Austria, too, will be entering a third coronavirus lockdown after Christmas that will last until January 18.

The country ended its second lockdown just last week. 

A fresh lockdown would mean closing non-essential shops again and switching from the current night curfew to being required to stay at home all day where possible.

It could also mean delaying the reopening of ski resorts, which is scheduled for December 24.


01:44 PM

Travel Advent Calendar, day 18: Answer questions about Canada to win a £200 holiday voucher

To celebrate the festive season, we're offering the chance to win a £200 holiday voucher every day until Christmas.

advent

To enter the prize draw for today's £200 voucher, all you need to do is answer three questions, and leave your contact details using the link below. One winner, chosen at random from all correct entries, will receive a £200 AITO holiday voucher to spend with the tour operator of their choice.

Furthermore, you are free to enter every daily competition, giving you 24 chances to win. 

Enter here.


01:32 PM

No lifts, no problem

Ski lifts might be shut in France, but that won't stop resorts from making the most of the recent snowfall that’s blanketed the Alps in a wonderfully white coat, writes Lucy Aspden.

Following the lifting of France’s national lockdown on December 15, Les Deux Alpes is one of many resorts that will be welcoming visitors from tomorrow for a host of activities that don’t require ski lifts to be open – cunning, right?

Beginner skiers and children will be able to access the nursery slopes (which don’t require a lift) and the dedicated kids' area for ski lessons, while advanced skiers will be able to go ski touring (to access the untracked slopes) with a guide from the local ski school and Bureau des Guides.

Non-skiers won’t miss out on the fun either. From tomorrow they’ll be able to go snowshoeing, mountain biking on snow (yes really), sledding, paragliding, ice climbing, or take part in yoga sessions in the fresh air in Les Deux Alpes.

Les Deux Alpes - Getty

Restaurants in France are still currently banned from opening, but those in the resort will be offering takeaway meals and shops and hotels are open.

Les Deux Alpes was one of many resorts to fight back against the Government’s decision to shut lifts over Christmas, so until they can reopen on January 7 (pending a review after Christmas) it is keen to let snow lovers know there’s still the chance to spend a white Christmas in the Alps.


01:23 PM

Japan economy boosted by tourism campaign, but Tokyo left counting the cost

Japanese politicians have credited a controversial domestic tourism campaign with boosting the national economy by at least 1 trillion yen (approx. £7 billion).

The Go to Travel scheme was launched earlier this year in a bid to encourage tourism within the country by subsidising some costs, but critics claim it has also lead to a rapid rise in coronavirus infections in recent months.

The government has now halted the campaign, with the number of daily new cases topping 800 in Tokyo.


01:11 PM

Inside the world's most expensive quarantine hotel

Lee Cobaj writes:

A temperature-controlled bed wrapped in 400 thread count Ploh bedding. A freestanding blue marble bathtub lined with Sodashi amenities. A chilled vitrine filled with daily deliveries of hand-made chocolates. Plus Michelin-starred room service, an in-room cocktail station, a DJ booth, VR gaming and a cinema screen – all are a part of the service at the world's most glamorous quarantine suite. 

mandarin oriental hong kong

Priced at HK$49,500 (£4,772) per night for a single guest or HK$51,150 (£4,965) for two, the Entertainment suite at the The Landmark Mandarin Oriental is the latest room to be added to Hong Kong's official list of approved quarantine hotels. It's also the most expensive, with a 14-night stay (the compulsory length of quarantine in Hong Kong) coming in at a cool £66,800.

mandarin oriental hong kong

Labelling themselves as a quarantine hotel is not a decision that any hotel takes – never mind one of the world's finest luxury properties – but the sad reality is that Hong Kong's normally thriving hospitality industry has been left on its knees since the borders were closed to all but residents in late March.

Read the full article


12:56 PM

Is it safe to go skiing? Everything you need to know about booking a trip this winter

It’s that time of year again – as the mercury plummets and winter begins, thoughts turn to booking a ski holiday, writes Lucy Aspden.

Except 2020 has been a year like no other and snow-sport fans who are keen to return to the mountains have more questions than ever before to consider before they book their winter escape.

Skiers have every right to be hesitant about booking their next trip to the slopes too – last season the coronavirus pandemic left the hopes and dreams of thousands in tatters. Since then, despite some brief respite in the form of travel corridors, things haven’t got much better as travel restrictions continue to change at the drop of a hat and a resurgence in cases across Europe sees ski resorts across Europe either closed or strictly limited in their reopenings. While some operators have scrapped chalet holidays others have decided to cancel trips entirely, while some, unfortunately, have folded.

The future of travel remains uncertain meaning it pays to be prepared if booking a ski holiday this season - Val Gardena

While early-season ski holidays look unlikely as international travel for the majority those in England is advised against, luckily there’s still hope for ski holidays in 2021 and the spring – news that the current quarantine will be cut from 10 days to five with the introduction of the test to release scheme is welcome news for those eager to get to the slopes.

Here we answer the top queries from our readers regarding booking their future ski holidays


12:42 PM

Easyjet adds four new holiday destinations for summer 2021

Easyjet Holidays has expanded its summer 2021 offering with four new packages to destinations on the Med.

The company will run trips to Ibiza, Kos and Tunisia from Manchester Airport, and holidays in Zante from Luton Airport, with prices starting from £366pp.

EasyJet holidays commercial director Paul Bixby said: “We know there is pent-up consumer demand for holidays next year as so many people weren’t able to get away this year, so we’re really pleased to be expanding our network with the introduction of new destinations from Manchester and Luton airports.

“And our customers can rest assured that we offer the ultimate flexibility so they can book their well-deserved 2021 holiday with total confidence.”


12:28 PM

Comment: What Grant Shapps should have announced at 5pm yesterday

Every Thursday, the transport minister performs a travel restrictions hokey-cokey. It needn’t be like this, argues Chris Moss, as he reimagines the weekly update as an enlightened Christmas present to all of us:

Dear Would-be Travellers of England,

Thursday at 5pm has become the traditional time for my travel tweets, which I like to think of, in Christmas party spirit, as a lively hokey-cokey of air corridors, PCR tests, quarantines at both ends of a flight, and holidays in unlikely places.

However, as the festive period approaches, and I have had time to think while helping Ms Shapps prepare the Christmas feast, I’ve decided to apply a cracker-full of common sense, logic and informed judgment in an attempt to normalise air travel to countries which are actually open to British travellers. This deviates sharply from the dictatorial, behind-closed-doors and amateurist approach of the previous nine months; but this government is all about breaking barriers and levelling up, or down, or taking back control… you know the kind of thing I’m talking about.

Therefore, I’ll not waste any more of our mutual time issuing rules on travel to countries such as Uruguay (exempt from December 10, dis-exempt from tomorrow) or Thailand (exempt since September 10), or other places that were never open to any of us in the first place. Nor will we seek to grant tourism permits to visit countries that are off the tourism radar such as Angola, Timor-Leste, or defence procurement ally Saudi Arabia – which, I’ve just checked, is also closed to us, anyway.

Instead, this popular people’s government shall seek to provide urgently needed Christmas cheer with rational, safe recommendations for travel during the holiday season – including countries people might actually want to go to. 

Read the rest of Mr Shapps' imaginary missive here

grant shapps - Getty

12:24 PM

Christmas travel chaos in Australia as Sydney virus cluster grows

A cluster of coronavirus infections in a Sydney suburb has sparked nationwide travel chaos as state governments race to reimpose border controls.

Health authorities have detected 28 new cases of Covid-19 in Sydney's Northern Beaches area, prompting the closure of beaches, swimming pools and restaurants as officials try to trace the source of infection.

Fearing another lockdown over Christmas, hundreds of residents rushed to the airport in an attempt to leave New South Wales before restrictions are reimposed, but other states are already taking the initiative.

Neighbouring Victoria is now demanding that all would-be arrivals from NSW obtain a permit in order to cross the border; Queensland and the Northern Territory are enforcing a 14-day self-isolation period for anyone who has recently been in Northern Beaches; and Western Australia has ordered quarantine for the whole of NSW.

Up to now, Australia has been steadily relaxing Covid restrictions following a two-week stretch without any local transmissions.


12:10 PM

The 23 countries where you can (feasibly) have a holiday

There are currently 74 countries and territories on the UK travel corridor list, but since most of them are unwilling to return the favour, just 23 are viable, quarantine-free holiday options. Of these, only one – Gibraltar – is free of restrictions altogether.

Here's a rundown of the destinations that can feasibly be visited from the UK (provided none are booted off the 'green list' in the next few weeks), along with their entry requirements:

  1. Gibraltar: No restrictions
  2. Iceland: No quarantine if you have already had Covid
  3. Jersey: Test on arrival (and, for most, a quarantine)
  4. Madeira: Test on arrival or before departure
  5. Anguilla: Test before departure and on arrival
  6. Antigua and Barbuda: Test before departure
  7. Barbados: Test before departure
  8. Bermuda: Test before departure
  9. Cuba: Test on arrival
  10. Dominica: Test before departure and on arrival
  11. Grenada: Test before departure 
  12. St Kitts: Test before departure
  13. St Lucia: Test before departure
  14. St Vincent and the Grenadines: Test before departure
  15. Maldives: Test before departure
  16. Mauritius: Test before departure and on arrival
  17. Seychelles: Test before departure and on arrival
  18. Rwanda: Test before departure and on arrival
  19. Chile: Test before departure
  20. Bahrain: Test on arrival
  21. Cambodia: Test before departure
  22. Sri Lanka: Test before departure
  23. UAE (including Dubai and Abu Dhabi): Test before departure

12:00 PM

Lunchtime read: Macron, Brexit, and the truth about French arrogance

It is easy so see Emmanuel Macron’s catching of Covid as karma, writes Anthony Peregrine. The fellow wants our finance houses – and our fish, insisting that instead we eat humble pie. This will teach him. Testing positive is about the only positive thing the French president has done of late. Let it bring him down a peg or two. This, I think, might be a generic British response to Mr Macron’s misfortune.

For many, Mr Macron is the incarnation of France’s legendary arrogance. He’s smoothly turned-out, effortlessly self-confident, wears an annoying semi-smile and the air of a chap convinced that France’s self-interest is primordial not only for the good of France but for the good of the entire world. Human rights start here. 

"He wears an annoying semi-smile and the air of a chap convinced that France’s self-interest is primordial not only for the good of France but for the good of the entire world" - Getty

Typical Frenchman, yes? Certainly, and not visibly traumatised by the fact that he aggravates the British. That said, I’m not entirely sure that the arrogance which Mr Macron apparently personifies is quite as simple or as comprehensive as some think. It may be that the typical Frenchman is not as in the caricature, that our neighbours are not as haughty as billed.

Read the full article


11:49 AM

'This key booking time for the UK travel industry has now been effectively cancelled'

With no new additions to the travel corridor list for the next three weeks (coupled with some potential removals), UK tourism businesses have been dealt a blow at the worst possible time, says Edward Paine, managing director of Last Frontiers.

He comments:

Ministers say their two-week pause on changes to the travel corridors list is 'to provide certainty for passengers and industry around travel plans'. Since they have also said they will continue to remove countries from the corridor list during that period it will do no such thing.

The two weeks prior to January 7 is the key booking time for the UK travel industry, which has now been effectively cancelled. Many businesses like mine will now have no option but to reduce staffing levels and hours further still, while those wishing to travel to countries that would otherwise have been opened up during this period will once again be frustrated by what sounds like Government departments wanting Christmas holidays.

11:38 AM

Scotland’s ski resorts open this weekend, but it’s illegal for most people to visit

Four of Scotland’s five ski resorts, Glenshee, CairnGorm, The Lecht and Glencoe, will officially open for the winter tomorrow, but it is against Scottish law for most skiers and snowboarders to travel to them, reports Abigail Butcher

The fifth, Nevis Range, remains closed after suffering huge losses of £1million from the pandemic earlier this year. 

Until the snow arrives in abundance skiers will have to wait to hit the slopes in Glenshee - STEVEN MCKENNA/SKI SCOTLAND

Since November 20, it has been illegal for anyone from England, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Wales to travel to Scotland without “a good reason”, meaning anyone caught crossing the border for leisure purposes will incur a £60 fine. 

“Under current Scottish Government travel conditions, unless you have a specific justification for travel you must not travel between Scotland and England, Northern Ireland, Wales, County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland and Jersey,” said Susan Smith, interim chief executive at CairnGorm Mountain. 

Read the full article


11:30 AM

November lockdown takes its toll on Heathrow forecasts

Heathrow Airport has revised its passenger traffic forecasts for 2020 down to 22.3 million – a decrease of 0.3 million – to account for November's lockdown.

It's another bitter blow for the aviation hub, which has seen a steep fall in flight connectivity since the start of the pandemic (see below), as well as an 88% year-on-year drop in passenger numbers last month.

The airport has welcomed roughly 21 million passengers in 2020. By comparison, Heathrow's total passenger traffic over the whole of 2019 was just under 81 million.


11:17 AM

In Armenia, locals are baffled by our lockdown-loop mentality

Covid hysteria is unlikely to gain a foothold in a country buffeted by such long-standing existential threats, writes Daniel Hardaker.

The streets [of Yerevan] are full, mostly, of twenty-somethings out for after-work drinks and fancy coffees. Outdoor heaters keep the area lively throughout winter. Paradise Garage-type disco floods the terrace of the Mirzoyan Library Bar in the late afternoon.

Explaining the lockdown-loop mentality of the West to the locals, I am met with bafflement. Such familiar millennial lifestyle symbolism alongside sincere national sentiment and Covid nonchalance is uncanny – an anti-matter Dalston. 

Read the full article

'Armenia has that wartime mix of grief, anxiety and hedonism' - Getty

11:07 AM

Government pledges post-Brexit healthcare support for UK tourists with 'routine treatment needs'

Amidst concerns that Brexit negotiators will not able to agree on a substitute for the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) scheme, the Government has pledged to cover the holiday healthcare costs for Britons with routine treatment needs travelling in the European Economic Area or Switzerland.

Intended to aid those with ongoing medical needs, such as those who require dialysis or chemotherapy, the Government initiative will commence on January 1 and continue for 12 months.

In a written statement to the House of Commons, health minister James Argar said:

Negotiations on future arrangements with the EU are ongoing and include necessary healthcare provisions. If agreed, such provisions would provide effectively the same healthcare cover as the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The Government continues to work hard to secure these arrangements.  

In the event we have not reached an EU-wide agreement on reciprocal healthcare, the Government will implement a time-limited healthcare scheme that supports UK residents with ongoing, routine treatment needs, who are visiting the European Economic Area or Switzerland from 1 January 2021. This type of treatment was previously covered under the EHIC scheme.  

This Government will introduce the scheme with the intention that it is used by individuals who are certain to require treatment while abroad, such as regular dialysis, oxygen therapy or certain types of chemotherapy. The Government recognises that these ongoing, routine treatment costs can be expensive, and makes travelling abroad extremely challenging for many people.  

The scheme will be temporary and will cover travel that takes place between 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021. 

10:51 AM

Europe's vanishing air routes

More than 6,000 air routes connected to European airports have disappeared in the last nine months, according to a study by Airports Council International (ACI).

The international airports hit hardest by the drop in direct connectivity include Madrid-Barajas (-71% of pre-Covid flight routes), Rome-Fiumicino (-70%), Munich (-68%), London-Heathrow (-68%) and Frankfurt (-67%) as of September.

But regional airports have fared far worse, with the principle victims including Linz (-96%), Treviso (-95%), Vaasa (-91%), Quimper (-87%), Newquay (-86%), Shannon (-83%) and Burgas (-82%).

Airports in Russia and Turkey have best weathered the turmoil caused by the pandemic, their success attributed to the strength of their respective domestic markets.

Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI EUROPE, said: “The damage is so systemic that relying solely on market forces to restore air connectivity would not be realistic. The EU and governments across Europe must urgently intervene to help jump-start it."


10:42 AM

'It is not going to be an easy January for travellers'

Paul Charles, CEO of travel consultancy The PC Agency, believes that the decision to suspend new travel corridors until January 7 offers some stability for those hoping to travel over Christmas. But relaxation might still be in short supply.

He said:

The Christmas and New Year period is quite unpredictable so I think that the UK government is concerned about adding countries to corridors and then being forced to remove them quite quickly as infection rates rise. It’s encouraging that it is creating some stability until early January but consumers still need to be flexible and adaptable should rates rise quickly while abroad. Having to regularly check how infections are changing makes for a stressful holiday.

It is not going to be an easy January for travellers due to likely higher case numbers in winter. I’d be booking trips for Easter onwards when there should be more certainty, more corridors and more optimism about how Covid is being beaten.

10:32 AM

Thailand relaxes Covid travel rules for 56 countries

Thailand is set to relax entry restrictions for travellers from 56 countries, including the US and Japan, in an effort to revive its ailing tourism sector.

Tourists will be allowed to enter the country without a prior visa, but they will still have to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine, punctuated by three Covid tests.

Visitors to the country must also carry a health certificate showing that they have tested negative for Covid.

"The definition of which countries are low risk or high risk changes every day. So let’s allow them all to enter, but put them into quarantines upon arrival", said Taweesilp Witsanuyotin, a spokesman for Thailand's Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration.

Travellers coming from Australia, Italy and France will also be permitted to enter the country for up to 30 days, while those arriving from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and South Korea will be allowed to stay for up to 90 days.


10:20 AM

Qantas launches 'flight to somewhere'

Despite widespread outcry from environmentalists everywhere, Qantas found great success in its controversial 'flight to nowhere' – a seven-hour circuit, departing and landing at Sydney, which was priced between $575 (£445) and $2,765 (£2,145) and which sold out in 10 minutes.

Now the Australian carrier is back with a sequel: the 'flight to somewhere'.

The 'somewhere' in this instance is Uluru, and rather than a single loop from Sydney and back, the one-off package includes an overnight stay at the nearby Sails in the Desert hotel.

The airline is now looking at other destinations for similar flights, with Tasmania and Norfolk Island both in the conversation.

A view of Uluru from Qantas' 'flight to somewhere' - Getty

10:07 AM

Travel corridor removals give urgency to UK testing programme

Responding to the removal of Namibia, Uruguay and the US Virgin Islands from England's travel corridor list, aviation trade body Airlines UK has called for a boost to the Government's testing scheme:

Travel Corridors have been a lifeline for airlines by allowing quarantine free travel. Whilst the removal of corridors is obviously disappointing, the Government’s new Test to Release scheme offers an alternative to quarantine from countries not on the Travel Corridor list.

The latest removals make it all the more vital that the UK’s testing scheme evolves quickly and has as soon as possible in the New Year removed the need for quarantine altogether, which would make a huge difference to travellers and airlines, whilst we await the positive impact of vaccine rollout.

10:00 AM

Travel-starved Aussies flock to asbestos death trap

Australian tourists are in the crosshairs of an airborne killer that isn’t Covid-19. It is known as Australia’s deadliest place, yet some tourists are still visiting Wittenoom ghost town, which was abandoned because of an asbestos contamination linked to more than 2,000 deaths. 

Perhaps bored due to the country’s nine-month international travel ban, Aussie tourists are ignoring health warnings to visit the curious spot, where they're potentially exposed to lethal asbestos fibres. Australia closed its national borders on March 20 in response to the coronavirus pandemic, with its citizens since barred from taking overseas holidays. 

While most Aussies have compensated by visiting the country’s endless beautiful beaches and forests, others have indulged in dark tourism, exploring ghost towns like Wittenoom. Some tourists have even been brazen enough to post photos of these risky visits on social media, bragging about their stopovers. 

Read the full article

Having beaten Covid, Aussies are passing the time by visiting a deadly ghost town - Getty

09:51 AM

Cruise line launches fund to save beleaguered Galapagos Islands

With 80% of the local economy dependent on tourism, the Galapagos Islands have been pummelled by the coronavirus pandemic and ensuing travel bans.

But hope has been rekindled after cruise company Lindblad Expeditions, launched a relief fund in partnership with not-for-profit organisation Island Conservation in a bid to rescue the Ecuadorian archipelago, famous for its diverse and unique wildlife.

"The people of Galpagos are struggling more than I've seen in my 53-year relationship with the Islands," said Sven Lindblad, the cruise line's founder and CEO.

"Stimulating the local economy through community micro-loans has the power to activate a thriving system  helping entrepreneurs and small business owners develop new ideas to complement sustainable tourism, and meeting the needs of the local community long after the pandemic is over."

The Galapagos Island Relief Fund hopes to raise at least $500,000, with Mr Lindblad promising to give $3 for every $1 donated.


09:36 AM

Governments 'unlikely' to demand vaccination proof

Evidence of a Covid-19 vaccination is not expected to become a requirement for international travel, the head of the World Travel and Tourism Council has revealed.

Gloria Guevara, CEO of the WTTC, said: “I don’t believe governments will request vaccination as a requirement [for travel] as they will kill their [tourism] sector.”

Speaking at an online conference hosted by the Commons Project Foundation and the World Economic Forum (both working to create a digital health app called CommonPass), Ms Guevara went on to say that testing would remain the key to reopening travel, with 'digital health passports' a more likely prospect.

Gloria Guevara - Getty

Debate surrounding mandatory Covid vaccinations was sparked last month when the CEO of Qantas Airways, Alan Joyce, announced that vaccines will become "a necessity" for those wishing to travel abroad.


09:16 AM

Two thirds of Britons worried about Christmas travel

While travel restrictions within the UK are set to be lifted for five days over the Christmas period, almost two thirds of Britons are nervous about travelling through busy railway stations and airports, according to a new survey.

A poll of more than 2,000 people by travel think tank, Thrive, found that 63% of respondents are 'worried' at the prospect, while almost 17% said they are 'very worried'.

In response to a question about official advice for those travelling abroad, 65% said they feel the Government is doing a bad job, although 53% did also say they have plans to travel between now and the end of 2021.


09:06 AM

Which countries deserve travel corridors?

As of today, the UK's seven-day case rate for coronavirus infections stands at 242 per 100,000 people.

Critics of the Government's travel corridor decisions have argued that is makes little sense to exclude top travel destinations where the caseload is far lower: South Africa (97); Jamaica (17); Egypt (4); Kenya (6); Mexico (57) – to name but a few.

Read more:  These countries must be added to the travel green list next


08:54 AM

Covid testing facility opens at Heathrow

Heathrow Airport has opened a new drive-through Covid testing site which will soon be able to process up to 5,000 tests a day.

The 24-lane facility, which will soon have two on-site laboratories, offers gold-standard PCR tests, which are accepted by most countries which require pre-departure testing for entry.

The tests cost £80 for passengers and £99 for the wider public, with results sent via email or text the following day.

Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye said: “We’re delighted to host this site which will help our passengers to get away safely in time for the festive season.

“Testing is crucial to the UK’s recovery from this pandemic and we look forward to working with ExpressTest, government and our airlines to better understand how pre-departure testing could be used to eradicate the need to quarantine on arrival.”


08:41 AM

Shapps faces Twitter backlash

As ever, the travel corridor update has provoked a strong reaction from Twitter-users:


08:23 AM

What happened yesterday?

​Before we begin, here's a quick look at Thursday's main headlines:

  • No new travel corridors, but Uruguay, Namibia and the US Virgin Islands have been removed from the green list
  • Holidays to Tenerife can continue, despite reports of a flight ban
  • BA has dropped 15 long-haul routes for 2021
  • The EHIC scheme will be extended for people with certain pre-existing conditions is no wider deal on heathcare is reached
  • The world's biggest cruise company is considering whether to ban unvaccinated passengers