Industry bosses have urged further clarity on when other holiday destinations could be added to the quarantine-free green list amid criticism the Government had been too cautious in its approach to unlocking international travel.
Portugal, Gibraltar and Israel are among just 12 destinations which will be on the green list from May 17 – with some countries on the list still not accepting holidaymakers.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the removal of the ban on international leisure travel was “necessarily cautious”, but sector leaders warned it could “delay the industry’s recovery”.
People returning to England from a green destination from May 17 will not be required to self-isolate and are only required to take one post-arrival coronavirus test.
Travel bosses call on Government to reveal when more countries will join green list
Tourism favourites like the USA, France and Spain are not included on the list of destinations UK travellers can go to from May 17
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Transport Secretary Grant Shapps
The green list also features several remote British Overseas Territories and destinations where visits are heavily restricted, such as Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Brunei and the Faroe Islands.
Virgin Atlantic called for the US to be added to the green list, saying the Government has taken an overly cautious approach .
A spokesman said: There is no reason for the US to be absent from the green list. This overly cautious approach fails to reap the benefits of the UK s successful vaccination programme.
The spokesman added: While transatlantic links with the US, our largest trading partner, are restricted, £23 million in economic value is lost each day, which is why a transatlantic travel corridor is vital to deliver a much-needed boost to economic recovery.
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Travel firms have accused the government of being too cautious with its quarantine-free green list of countries, calling it a “missed opportunity”.
Industry leaders have urged the government to add to the list as England prepares to restart non-essential foreign travel from 17 May.
Prospective holidaymakers had been eager to find out where they would be able to travel without needing to self-isolate on return before the list was published on Friday.
But the government has faced backlash after revealing 12 countries - including some currently banning tourists - will be on the list from 17 May, with the travel industry calling this too restrictive.