Yahoo News Portugal to come off the 'red list' today
Summer holiday hopes are set to be given a boost later today, with Portugal expected to be removed from the UK’s travel ‘red list’.
It means Britons will be able to visit the country without having to enter a Government-approved quarantine hotel for a minimum 10-day period – at a cost of £1,750 per person – upon their return.
The Portuguese government has already indicated that it hopes to reopen borders from mid-May to British holidaymakers who have been vaccinated or tested negative for Covid-19, while the UK’s own ban on international travel is set to be lifted at around the same time (on May 17 at the earliest).
Portugal was one of the first countries to be added to the 33-strong ‘red list’, which was introduced in February as a precaution against emerging coronavirus variants.
It was also the only European country to be singled out for hotel quarantine restrictions due to its strong links with Brazil, where one of the most concerning variants first emerged.
The extra restrictions are expected to continue indefinitely for the remaining 32 red-listed countries, including South Africa, Brazil and the UAE.
Scroll down for more updates.
05:20 PMThat's all for today
That's all for today
Before we go, here's a reminder of today's main headlines:
Portugal to come off the 'red list' today
Turkey plans to be first country to accept British holidaymakers without Covid checks
Coronavirus surge forces swathes of Italy back into lockdown
Nicola Sturgeon to announce plans to ease lockdown
Germans urged not to travel after Majorca restrictions lifted
We'll be back tomorrow for more live travel coverage.
05:12 PMThe cheaper alternative to Tuscany – with more mountains, better beaches and fewer people
The cheaper alternative to Tuscany – with more mountains, better beaches and fewer people
Tuscany is beautiful, but incredibly well-known. Tim Jepson shares the best of the Marche region instead, from its towns and villages to its beaches, mountains and one-off highlights.
Quite when Tuscany was “discovered” is hard to say – perhaps during the Grand Tours of the 18th century, perhaps by British buyers in Chianti in the Sixties – but ever since people have been looking for a region to take it place – the “next Tuscany”.
Neighbouring Umbria came first, the Abruzzo, east of Rome, will probably be next, but for now the Marche – or the Marches or Le Marche – midway down Italy’s eastern Adriatic coast, is Tuscany’s anointed successor.
No region, of course, should merely be the poorer relation of another; somewhere you visit if you can’t have the real thing. And the Marche is far from a simple substitute. Like anywhere in Italy it has a regional identity and regional treasures – food, art, wine, natural beauty – of its own.
04:54 PMBritish picnics are a league behind Mongolian and Turkish affairs – it's time to up our game
British picnics are a league behind Mongolian and Turkish affairs – it's time to up our game
As summer looms ever closer, Anna Hart points out a British weakness that needs correcting in time for the good weather – our picnics.
Here in the UK, we have an enviable picnicking heritage, dating back to extravagant outdoor meals for medieval hunting parties. Picnics remained a point of national pride right through the Victorian and Edwardian eras. But recently, we’ve lost our way, I suppose because we found our way to chip shops and posh cafes. Perhaps we can further blame it on the creeping invasion of Tesco Metro and Sainsbury’s Local supermarkets on every street corner, making it all too easy to rely on plastic-wrapped salads and finger foods.
04:44 PM‘Give us clarity on testing and quarantine,’ demands airport CEO
‘Give us clarity on testing and quarantine,’ demands airport CEO
Glyn Jones, chief executive of London Southend airport, today blasted the Government for its lack of clarity on what holidaymakers can expect when they return home to Britain:
It’s one thing to say ‘it is no longer illegal to fly without a good reason’. But without clarity around the logistical dimension and the cost dimension it doesn’t really change the world that much.
There’s no clarity on whether people will still need to have tests or, indeed, what will happen with quarantine. Even though the principal brake, which is the law [banning all international travel], comes off in the middle of May, the other brakes remain on. [Testing] is just not sustainable. You do have to start to wonder why we are going to need testing when so many people have been vaccinated?
When you’ve got a transport secretary telling everybody not to book holidays, you start to wonder. Telling people not to take their holidays when the government has said it is legal to do so after the middle of May is a little sad.
04:34 PMHow the pandemic turned New York’s stale restaurants into a cutting-edge street food scene
How the pandemic turned New York’s stale restaurants into a cutting-edge street food scene
The pandemic has led to a boom in new food trucks, carts and holes-in-the-wall – which should all be added to your hit list for your next Big Apple trip, writes Laura Chubb.
‘Boring”, “safe”, “meh”: all words used to describe New York’s restaurant scene in recent years – and by the city’s top food editors at that. Adam Platt, New York magazine’s longtime restaurant critic, even likened the latest openings to an Ed Sheeran ballad: “Focus-grouped [and] middlebrow.” Ouch.
Today, though, a revolution is brewing. Because, while the Covid-19 pandemic has devastated New York’s restaurant industry – forcing more than 1,000 establishments to permanently close in the first six months alone – there is another side to the story. One where the mass exodus of mega-wealthy diners and restaurant groups run by celebrity chefs has made space for a more fun, creative and grassroots movement to flourish.
04:13 PM'Before boarding I was concerned': 10 things I learnt on my first river cruise
'Before boarding I was concerned': 10 things I learnt on my first river cruise
'It came as something of a pleasing revelation: river cruising is a genuine holiday', writes Kaye Holland. After the pandemic brought the global cruise industry to a standstill in March 2020, river vessels were the first to return, sailing successfully through the second half of the year – they were even exempt from Foreign Office's cruise travel advice.
And now they look set to lead the charge in 2021, with smaller ships that sail closer to land in the event of an outbreak of Covid-19. Here, Holland shares what she discovered on her first voyage to help you feel prepared, such as:
1. Age is just a number
I’ll confess: before boarding MS Bellejour I was concerned that I’d spend seven days surrounded by crinkly haired grannies and grandads – river cruising has long been synonymous with seniors – and a cursory glance around the room during the ‘welcome’ drinks did little to quell my suspicions.
2. They're likely to be a child-free zone
Another advantage of holidaying with older travellers? Their children, if they’ve chosen to have them, are grown-ups with their own offspring. All of which means that unless you choose to set sail during the school holidays, you won’t be forced to spend your river cruise surrounded by screaming children or stroppy teenagers. Result.
04:04 PMClaudia Winkleman: Cornwall overrated? Don't be absurd
Claudia Winkleman: Cornwall overrated? Don't be absurd
As Cornwall continues to weather some (light) criticism, with some parties suggesting it isn't all it's cracked up to be, television and radio presenter Claudia Winkleman has leapt to the Duchy's defence – letting us into the secret of her own Cornish bolthole in the process:
I hope you agree with me that some questions simply must be answered. We basically spend our lives looking for definitive solutions so we can tick off certain things in our heads and be absolutely sure. I’m not talking about the big stuff here – the “Why are we here?” and “Is there life on another planet?” questions. Please. I’m an orange TV presenter; I think it’s important that I don’t um, overreach.
No, I’m talking about the other stuff: the little things that still matter. I’m talking about the best sandwich (a tuna melt), the best cocktail (a margarita) and the best game to play with friends (bridge, of course). Can I just add that this is not a conversation, this is not a what-do-you-think moment. This is just fact, so don’t @ me. Then, of course, there’s the biggie, the one that will often stump us – where is the best place to rent a cottage in the UK? Never before has this question been so important, so vital, so… well, needed.
I can hear quite a lot of praise for the Lake District. I can see there are a few of you who think the answer is the Cotswolds. I absolutely love Scotland, too, but I’m here to tell you that – as with bridge, a margarita and indeed anything covered in melted cheese – I have found the answer. The best place in the UK is on the outskirts of a small moor in Cornwall. That’s it. End of. Bam. Finito. Case closed. Thanks so much for coming. Night night. If you’re shaking your head, if you’re thinking “she’s lost it”, if you’re not totally with me, then let me elaborate.
03:54 PM10 beautiful British hotels still with availability for the week of May 17
10 beautiful British hotels still with availability for the week of May 17
All being well, many British hotels will finally be able to fling open their doors on May 17, writes Emma Beaumont. But with some favourites already booked and others still without a confirmed return date, travellers keen to get away will be looking for alternatives.
Here are five top spots to secure right now to ring in the return of hotels in style
03:43 PMGermans urged not to travel after Majorca restrictions lifted
Germans urged not to travel after Majorca restrictions lifted
A surge in Easter holiday bookings by Germans seeking to escape to the Mediterranean has prompted an appeal from the government to limit travel.
Budget carrier Eurowings has had to add hundreds of extra flights to Mallorca to cope with demand from German travellers after the island was downgraded to 'low risk' by Germany's health authorities yesterday.
But officials are now concerned at the sheer volume of German citizens preparing to take advantage of the relaxation in travel restrictions.
“The appeal is to avoid any not absolutely necessary travel,” said government spokesman Steffen Seibert.
03:28 PMThe time capsule towns and villages to visit this spring
The time capsule towns and villages to visit this spring
Spring has emerged. Daffodils and crocuses are in bloom and lighter evenings entice us to think beyond the local. It is less than a month until holidays will be permitted within England, with the devolved administrations also beginning to ease travel restrictions.
As the days lengthen, many will be ready to satiate a craving for adventure. Whether for day trips, weekend jaunts or longer breaks, history is our strongest tourism asset. One which, for now, we have all to ourselves. Unsullied by skyscrapers, tower blocks or backpack-toting tour groups, certain corners of the UK retain the architecture and feel of past eras.
We’ve rounded up some of the best examples to add to your UK travel wishlist
03:19 PMInside the coolest hotel in South Africa, set on a bridge high above the Kruger
Inside the coolest hotel in South Africa, set on a bridge high above the Kruger
Expect a gravity-defying pool and unprecedented views of wildlife at the Sabie Bridge – a breathtaking new hotel set in renovated carriages on a derelict train bridge, says Narina Exelby.
Fifteen metres below my feet, a hippo is returning from its nocturnal grazing to the cool waters of the Sabie River. Splish-splashhhhh. It’s a sound that might well have woken this region’s very first safari tourists as they slept up here in a train that paused overnight on the 300m-long Sabie Bridge before continuing its journey through the Lowveld. It’s almost a century since those first visitors spent a night suspended above the wilderness in what would become one of the largest national parks in the world – and it’s almost five decades since the last steam train ran the Selati Line in South Africa’s Mpumalanga province. Since the tracks were removed in 1973, the Sabie Bridge has stood silent witness as the sweet grasses, combretums, marulas and knob-thorn acacia trees sunk their roots into the scar of the railway line.
Memories of Kruger National Park’s earliest safari-goers had settled into dust – but now the spirit of those early train journeys is being revived and the Sabie Bridge is once again playing host. The 109-year-old bridge has been re-envisioned as the location of one of Africa’s most sublime safari lodges – offering a unique twist on the usual safari experience. Parked permanently on the bridge are 24 refurbished carriages – and a swimming pool – that comprise the suites and bar of Kruger Shalati: the Train on the Bridge.
03:05 PMJet2 boosts capacity for Mediterranean holidays this summer
Jet2 boosts capacity for Mediterranean holidays this summer
Jet2.com and Jet2holidays have increased the number of flights and holidays to the Med this year off the back of a surge in demand for sunny getaways.
The company has boosted capacity by more than 50,000 seats in “direct response to demand for holidays in countries and destinations that have said they will welcome holidaymakers from the UK this summer."
It has expanded the number of flights and packages to countries such as Portugal, Greece, Spain, Turkey and Cyprus, with more departures from Belfast, East Midlands, Leeds Bradford, Manchester and Newcastle.
Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2 and Jet2holidays, said: “We know that our destinations are keen to welcome holidaymakers from the UK, and the UK government has shown that there is a clear ambition to reopen international travel in the coming months. We look forward to more detail in due course and will be ready to take our customers on their well-deserved holidays when travel reopens.”
02:50 PMVote now: Which destination are you dreaming of?
It's holiday daydreaming time.
Of the countries that have said they plan to welcome British holidaymakers this summer, which is your favourite?
— Telegraph Travel (@TelegraphTravel) March 15, 2021
02:43 PMNicola Sturgeon to announce plans to ease lockdown
Vote now: Which destination are you dreaming of?
It's holiday daydreaming time.
— Telegraph Travel (@TelegraphTravel) March 15, 2021
Of the countries that have said they plan to welcome British holidaymakers this summer, which is your favourite?
02:43 PMNicola Sturgeon to announce plans to ease lockdown
Nicola Sturgeon to announce plans to ease lockdown
Nicola Sturgeon will set a date for the first stage of lifting lockdown restrictions in Scotland tomorrow, with stay-at-home orders and hospitality business closures among the first to be discarded.
Giving her daily briefing earlier today, the First Minister said: “I will seek to set out some details of what changes we hope to make in early April, then what further easing we might then expect to see in late April, and then mid-May and in much less detail beyond that.
"Tomorrow’s statement will help people to understand when they can expect to see some of the key early milestones in the route back to normality.
"This will include the proposed date for the end of the “stay at home rule”, the reopening of shopping, outdoor and indoor hospitality, and further relaxations to the rules about meeting up with other households."
02:27 PMViking tales and untamed beaches: Welcome to England's wildest shore
Viking tales and untamed beaches: Welcome to England's wildest shore
"Over the waves, with the wind behind her and foam at her neck, she flew like a bird until her curved prow had covered the distance."
With the chilly, salty breeze whipping my hair into a fantastic bird's nest, and flecks of sea foam flitting up from the shore, the late great Seamus Heaney could easily have been describing me in his translation of Beowulf.
While I'm more likely to quote from Horrible Histories' Vicious Vikings than the legendary Old English poem, gazing out over wild sand dunes, sea-battered castles and remote tidal islands of the Northumberland Coast I can see why those naughty Norse invaders wanted these craggy shores for themselves.
Read more about England's storied North East coast here
02:14 PMSardinia readies itself for tourist influx
Sardinia readies itself for tourist influx
Airport workers in Sardinia have been preparing a comprehensive testing programme for incoming travellers, with all arrivals expected to take a PCR Covid test.
The popular holiday island is the only region of Italy to escape new lockdown restrictions amidst a surge of coronavirus cases, and the local authorities are taking steps to keep it that way.
With reservations at Sardinian hotels now around 65% of 2019 levels, the locals are cautiously optimistic that, with the proper precautions in place, their hard-hit economy will start to recover this summer.
01:58 PMTui delays river cruise launch
Tui delays river cruise launch
Tui has pushed back the launch of its new river cruise venture until the end of June.
Tui River Cruises was initially intended to take to Europe's waterways in summer 2020, but has now been delayed several times by the ongoing pandemic.
The three-ship line's first full sailing will now take place on June 28, with Tui Skyla due to depart Budapest for a seven-night voyage on the Danube.
01:44 PMThe best UK canal boat holidays to book now – before they sell out
The best UK canal boat holidays to book now – before they sell out
With an increasing number of Britons turning their attention to the UK for their summer holidays, a canal boat holiday is surely among the most appealing options.
You can embrace ‘slow travel’ while discovering portions of the country that you may never have considered – and you’ll wonder why you didn't try it sooner. Social distancing is a doddle on the more than 2,000 miles of inland waterways that you can drift along, and when the ‘rule of six’ returns, families can spread themselves across a number of boats – reuniting in their own private navy.
Here are some of the UK’s best routes for a canal boat holiday this year.
01:30 PMCancun introduces new tourist tax
Cancun introduces new tourist tax
Mexico's Quintana Roo region is set to introduce a new tourism tax in April for all foreign visitors heading to the state.
The holiday destinations of Cancun, Tulum and the island of Cozumel are all located in the region, and will launch the new tourism levy from April 1.
The tax will cost 224 peso (approx £7.78) and will need to be paid by any visitor aged 15 years and above. Tourists will be able to pay the tax electronically when they book a holiday, during their stay or when they leave Quintana Roo. There will also be an option to pay the levy using terminals at the region's airports.
It's hoped that the new fee could generate a 600 million peso (approximately £20million) boost for the local tourism industry in 2021.
01:13 PMThe rise of homeswapping – the 'free' alternative to self catering holidays
The rise of homeswapping – the 'free' alternative to self catering holidays
Don't just exchange your house – trade up your life, too, writes Sally Howard, who tried homeswapping herself two years ago and has now moved onto what she calls 'lifeswapping'.
Life swapping is home-swapping-plus: swapping homes, cars, pets, food supplies and local contacts, often for an extended period; and it’s increasingly popular, as pandemic lockdowns lift and many Britons find they can work from wherever they lay their laptop. Swapping site Love Home Swap saw a 355 percent increase in sign-ups to their site when the first lockdown lifted last June, and they’re witnessing a similar peak in activity now, with many new members looking for lengthier stays close to home rather than the traditional international swaps these sites would arrange (Australia to the UK being the most common exchange).
01:02 PMAnother £100 million to be pumped into Virgin Atlantic
Another £100 million to be pumped into Virgin Atlantic
Just a few months after securing a £1.2 billion bailout, Virgin Atlantic Airways is once again in talks for more funds worth up to £160 million.
The struggling airline is close to tying up new funding with shareholders which will include a £100 million loan from Virgin Group.
Creditors are apparently in support of the deal. About £60 million of further deferrals will go to Virgin Atlantic to maintain its cashflow while it waits for travel curbs to end.
"We continue to bolster our balance sheet in anticipation of the lifting of international travel restrictions during the second quarter of 2021," an airline spokesperson said.
12:45 PMIs this Andalucia’s most charming hill town?
Is this Andalucia’s most charming hill town?
In Vejer de la Frontera, a new wave of restaurants and buzzy boutique hotels has breathed new life into a historic pueblo blanco, writes Isabella Noble.
On clear days, the morning sun casts a rosy glow over the whitewashed houses of Vejer de la Frontera. Far away in the distance – beyond the green fields, the pale-blonde beaches of the windswept Costa de la Luz and the glinting Barbate wetlands – you might just make out Morocco looming across the Strait of Gibraltar. Its influence has helped shape the ancient hilltop town of Vejer, one of Andalucia’s most charming pueblos blancos (white villages), which in recent years has become a sizzling hub of creativity.
12:35 PMWill cruise holidays make a comeback in 2021, and where will we be able to go?
Will cruise holidays make a comeback in 2021, and where will we be able to go?
After a year in which Britons have hardly been able to travel abroad, cruising is coming back – but starting close to home, writes Dave Monk.
P&O Cruises and Princess have announced they are scrapping overseas itineraries until late summer and replacing them with round-Britain cruises, though details are yet to be announced.
Meanwhile, a task force, led by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, is due to report on April 12 as to whether overseas holidays can resume for people in England on May 17 – the same time that domestic hotels should be able to reopen.
Maritime Minister Robert Courts has given the go-ahead for cruising in English waters to return as early as May 17. Advice from the Foreign Office still warns against travelling internationally on ocean-going cruise ships, though the Department of Transport has confirmed this will not apply to UK voyages.
In Europe, some domestic cruises are sailing but there is no indication yet when Britons might be welcomed back on board.
So where – and when – will we be able to sail?
12:25 PMThe stats: Coronavirus in Portugal
The stats: Coronavirus in Portugal
Population: 10.28 million
Seven-day case rate: 40.8 per 100,000 people
Total infections: 814,000
Total deaths: 16,684
Vaccinations: 5.7% of population
12:13 PMComment: Untold damage has been done to Portugal’s reputation as a safe holiday destination
Comment: Untold damage has been done to Portugal’s reputation as a safe holiday destination
Portugal is coming off the UK's draconian hotel quarantine list – now we must ask why it was there in the first place, says Mary Lussiana.
Portugal was put on the much more draconian ‘red list’ on January 15, meaning that any arrivals that have been there within the last ten days would be obliged to spend ten days in quarantine in a hotel and £1,750. It was, sources quoted, because of the country’s long held links to Brazil, where the variant P1 was causing concern. Brazil and various other South American countries joined them on the list but Portugal was the only European country to have been singled out. Not Spain, whose capital is the main hub for travel between South America and London. Direct flights between Portugal and the UK were banned.
With the rumours in the media that Grant Shapps will today announce Portugal’s removal from the red list comes a further question. Surely its removal now proves the unfairness of it being put on the red list to start with? There has been no evidence that the historic links between Brazil and Portugal have created a breeding ground for P1, and yet untold damage has been done to Portugal’s reputation as a safe holiday destination.
12:01 PMTurkey bookings double following reopening announcement
Turkey bookings double following reopening announcement
The news that Turkey is set to become the first country to allow Britons in for summer holidays without requiring a vaccination certificate or negative Covid test has prompted an immediate uptick in holiday interest, according to Travel Republic.
A spokesperson for the company said:
The overnight news that Turkey plans to welcome UK holidaymakers back this summer is great to hear.
We’ve seen an immediate increase in searches, which have jumped by a third, and new bookings have doubled – we took several before breakfast this morning!
It just shows how keen beach-starved Brits are to get away after a year of hibernation.
11:46 AMSecret Portugal: 12 hidden gems to discover this summer
Secret Portugal: 12 hidden gems to discover this summer
Portugal is set to come off the red list today, meaning those returning from the country no longer have to endure a £1,750-per-person hotel quarantine. While travel for holiday purposes is still banned, the news means that getting to Portugal this summer is looking far more likely. The Portuguese government hopes to reopen borders from mid-May to Britons who have been vaccinated or tested negative for Covid-19, while the UK ban on international travel should be lifted on May 17 at the earliest.
All in all, it's looking bright for those wanting to visit the land of pastéis de nata and mesmeric tiles this summer.
Even if vaccinated, or Covid-negative, many will still be keen to visit more unknown areas – this is an excellent choice both for the lack of crowds and because these spots are some of Portugal's most authentic. Outside the big hitters of Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve lie towns bisected by rivers, medieval cities, and rural foothills where artisanal cheeses have been produced for generations.
11:32 AMCarnival CEO predicts another tough two years for cruise industry
Carnival CEO predicts another tough two years for cruise industry
Carnival Corp's chief executive Arnold Donald anticipates at least two more tough years for the cruise industry, which is unlikely to return to pre-pandemic levels until at least 2023, the Financial Times has reported.
The cruise company's full fleet might be sailing by the end of this year but even that isn't guaranteed as it "depends on so many variables, because every destination is going to have its own level of comfort and what regulations are going to be," he said in an interview.
Read more: An inside look at 12 devastating months without holidays at sea
11:24 AMWhy Iceland is the perfect option for a post-lockdown escape (away from the crowds)
Why Iceland is the perfect option for a post-lockdown escape (away from the crowds)
You want to travel again, yet stay stay away from crowds? So go to Iceland, says Jamie Carter.
With mandatory masks, an obligatory Covid-19 test on arrival and handspritt bottles everywhere, Iceland’s Keflavik Airport felt like any other during last summer’s brief lockdown hiatus. But away from the airport, the country couldn’t have been more different, with its naturally socially distanced open spaces and, rather unusually, empty car parks at its ‘golden circle’ tourist honeypot sites – Gullfoss waterfall, Strokkur geyser and Thingvellir National Park.
Will that remain the case this summer? High on our ‘green watchlist’, we’re confident that during 2021 Iceland will allow third-country nationals with an international vaccination certificate to enter quarantine-free. That could bring an influx of tourists, which means that if you do venture to the ‘land of ice and fire’ you should plan to explore away from that ‘golden circle’.
Here are seven easily accessible places that most tourists don’t make it to.
11:08 AMThird of Britons won't pay for Covid test to travel
Third of Britons won't pay for Covid test to travel
A third of Britons say would not be prepared to pay for a PCR test – either at home or at the airport – before travelling internationally, a new survey has found.
Research by travel insurance provider battleface has found 33% of respondents to a survey of 2,000 UK adults would refuse to purchase a PCR test – normally priced from around £120 per person – despite many countries requiring proof of a negative result to enter.
While the majority of UK holidaymakers said they would pay for a test, the average price they were willing to go to was just £22 per person, while only 4% of those surveyed said they would be prepared to pay £75 or more.
Sasha Gainullin, CEO of battleface, said: “It’s good news that the majority of travellers will be willing to take a Covid PCR test in order to go on holiday. That said, the current costs of PCR testing makes this option unviable for most travellers based on what they are prepared to spend on testing.
"Whilst vaccination passports and PCRs are expected to be the two key requirements for travel to restart, there is still a high degree of uncertainty which changes the risk profile for travel."
10:51 AMWhich of our 10 favourite summer holiday destinations could reopen by June?
Which of our 10 favourite summer holiday destinations could reopen by June?
With vaccine passports on the horizon, holiday bookings soaring, and the end of lockdown (hopefully) nigh, the possibility of a summer getaway is increasing every day.
But which of Britons’ most popular summertime haunts might be ready to accept visitors – and which are lagging behind?
Here's a look into the stats and stances of 10 summer hotspots, to help you decide where to book.
10:37 AMIn pictures: Beijing struck by sandstorm
In pictures: Beijing struck by sandstorm
A sandstorm has engulfed the Chinese capital, grounding flights and sending air pollution levels through the roof.
10:23 AMSingapore and Australia in talks over travel bubble
Singapore and Australia in talks over travel bubble
Singapore and Australia – two countries with some of the toughest travel restrictions in the world – could create a quarantine-free travel bubble by July.
Both governments have confirmed that there are plans afoot that would allow residents of both countries to travel back and forth freely, provided they could present proof of a Covid vaccination.
Singapore has been open to Australians since the autumn, albeit with numerous strings attached. Australia, on the other hand, has had a total ban on non-residents entering the country since borders were first closed a year ago this week, despite an ill-fated attempt to open a travel bubble with New Zealand.
10:04 AMThe ski day that started with a Covid-19 test
The ski day that started with a Covid-19 test
Mandatory testing has been introduced for skiers in the Austrian Tirol – Julia Gdowka reports from Stubai on the new procedure that could alter the ski holiday experience entirely next winter:
It’s mid-March and I was welcomed to Austria’s largest glacier ski resort, Stubai, by freezing temperatures. The conditions were promising – all that stood between me and carving on perfectly groomed slopes was a Covid-19 test.
Since February 15, a negative test result has been required for skiing in the state of Tirol (except for ski tourers who don’t use lifts). The ruling was introduced after a breakout of the South African variant of coronavirus was detected in the region, which put the Tirol on many countries’ 'high-risk' lists.
“At first, people were very sceptical about the tests,” said Andreas Kleinlercher, director of the Stubai Glacier. “But in the meantime, everyone got used to it as the negative test result is also required in other places, like hairdressers.”
Located at the back of an InterSport rental shop underneath the gondola entrance, a spacious locker area is transformed into a testing station each weekend, when the slopes are open to locals. Although organising it was complex, Stubai started testing its visitors less than two weeks after the regulation came into effect, while other resorts decided to close.
The testing process was neat: after filling out a form it was immediately my turn for a nose swab. Less than 15 minutes later I was told “have fun,” while my negative result was handed back to me.
Whether the current regulation will stay for the summer season or next winter isn’t confirmed yet. Stubai is prepared, though Kleinlercher admits it’s easier done when only locals come skiing. “We’ll be happy once it’s gone, but if not we’ll accept it as well.”
09:52 AMCoronavirus surge forces swathes of Italy back into lockdown
Coronavirus surge forces swathes of Italy back into lockdown
Covid restrictions have been reimposed across much of Italy today as the authorities struggle to suppress an outbreak of the 'Kent variant'.
Local lockdowns have been implemented across three quarters of the country, including in Rome and Milan, with schools, restaurants, shops and museums told close and residents ordered to stay home except for work, health or other essential reasons.
"I'm aware that today's restrictions will have consequences on the education of your children, on the economy and on everyone's mental health," said the Prime Minister, Mario Draghi.
"But they're necessary to avoid a worsening of the situation that would require even stricter measures."
09:38 AMBritons most in favour of 'vaccine passports', poll finds
Britons most in favour of 'vaccine passports', poll finds
More people in the UK support the rollout of 'vaccine passports' than any other country in Europe, a new survey has found.
Researchers found that 69% of Britons are in favour of travellers having to carry certification to prove they have been vaccinated for Covid-19, compared to 65% in Italy, 53% in Germany and 39% in France.
The poll of 6,000 people across Europe, conducted on behalf of Euronews, also found that 69% of respondents in the UK agree that travel should be restricted to those who have been vaccinate.
Support for this proposal was found to be much lower on the continent – just 42% in France, 40% in Italy and 35% in Germany.
09:23 AMPortugal holidays: The latest travel advice
Portugal holidays: The latest travel advice
Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, is expected to announce on Monday that Portugal will be removed from the red list of 33 countries from which foreign travel is banned.
Travellers arriving in England from Portugal will no longer be required to quarantine for 11 days in government-approved hotels at a cost of £1,750 per person.
The decision paves the way for summer holidays to Portugal, which has said it aims to open to Britons with vaccinations or negative Covid tests from mid-May. Boris Johnson’s road map set May 17 as the earliest date from which the ban on non-essential travel will be eased.
Here’s everything we know so far.
09:12 AMHave your say
Have your say
Would you feel comfortable travelling to a country that doesn't have Covid checks in place? Let us know what you think in our Twitter poll:
Turkey is set to become the first country to allow Britons in for summer holidays without requiring a vaccination certificate or negative Covid test.
Would you still feel comfortable travelling, if there are no Covid checks at all?
🇹🇷✈️🌎https://t.co/kD6RTyed03— Telegraph Travel (@TelegraphTravel) March 15, 2021
09:05 AMBritish Airways to launch 'vaccine passport' app
British Airways to launch 'vaccine passport' app
British Airways is working on a digital travel pass that will allow passengers to log their Covid vaccine history on the airline's smartphone app.
Travellers who have received both jabs will be able to register their inoculation status with BA, potentially reopening travel possibilities as more countries examine the option of 'vaccine passports'.
It comes after BA's chief executive, Sean Doyle, called on the UK to take 'leadership' in restarting international travel.
“We’re making great progress in Britain in dealing with the pandemic,” he said.
“It’s fair to say that Britain has developed a really strong leadership position in coming out the other end of the pandemic.
“What we want to make sure is that we also take that leadership position into restoring travel and restoring the economy.”
08:53 AMTurkey plans to be first country to accept British holidaymakers without Covid checks
Turkey plans to be first country to accept British holidaymakers without Covid checks
Turkey is set to become the first country to allow Britons in for summer holidays without requiring a vaccination certificate or negative Covid test, reports Charles Hymas.
The Turkish Government is so confident that the vast majority of Britons will be vaccinated by the Summer that it expects to be able to lift its requirement for holidaymakers from the UK to have a negative PCR test.
It means that Turkey will be open to Britons for summer holidays as soon as the Government lifts its ban on non-essential travel, expected as early as May 17.
Unlike Greece and other southern European states, Turkey has decided not to require arrivals to show vaccination passports but says it will review its entry test requirement for Britons next month.
08:46 AMGood morning!
Good morning!
Before we start, here's a reminder of the top stories from last week:
Wales to reopen self-catering stays for Easter – but not for the English
Portugal extends restrictions on UK arrivals
Florida holidays back on for summer, says Virgin Atlantic CEO
Mark Drakeford has 'anxieties' about the return of foreign travel
BA considers using long-haul planes for Greece holidays
France lifts restrictions on travellers from UK
