The countries that have confirmed dates for reopening UK travel

With just over a month to go until the Global Travel Taskforce submits its recommendations for reopening international travel to the Government, and a possible lifting of the global holiday ban on 17 May, the prospect of summer sun feels more tangible by the day.

Several nations have now set out their intentions for welcoming tourists this summer. So if international travel is able to resume from 17 May, where might UK residents be able to visit? These are the countries that have confirmed their conditions for entry, from negative Covid test results to vaccination. However, we will have to wait for conditions to be set out by the UK government in order to be able to leave the country.

Travellers from the UK will no longer need a “compelling reason to travel” to France, as the nation begins to ease its border restrictions. Tourism Minister Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne said that a decree will be published Friday 12 March outlining requirements, which will continue to include a negative Covid test result taken 72 hours prior to departure.

The Indian Ocean archipelago’s Tourism Minister Sylvestre Radegonde has said that The Seychelles hope to open to all tourists from 25 March. Vaccination will not be a requirement, but all visitors will have to present a negative PCR test, obtained 72 hours prior to departure. There will be no restrictions on visitors’ movements or minimum stay required. However, visitors from South Africa will not be permitted until a later review.

Cyprus will welcome vaccinated tourists from 1 May – they will not need to provide a negative Covid test result or quarantine on arrival. However, from 1 April countries will be categorised according to Covid risk – green meaning that no Covid testing is required, orange necessitating a negative test obtained prior to departure and red meaning a test is needed both before departure and on arrival.

Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis announced that “Greece is ready with a complete protocol for summer 2021.” The country is planning to welcome visitors from 14 May who have been vaccinated, have proven Covid antibodies, or can present a negative test result on arrival.

The UK’s top holiday destination is working towards a 19 May reopening date for tourism. Tourism Minister Reyes Maroto has said that the country is looking at a vaccination passport system, which could mean that unvaccinated tourists would have to present a negative Covid test result in order to avoid quarantine. Travel from the UK to Spain is currently banned.

Although no official date has been given, Turkey has now stated that British tourists will not be required to have had the vaccine to enter, nor will they have to present a negative test prior to arrival. This is due to the success of the UK’s vaccination programme. Further updates are likely to follow.

Portugal has now been removed from the red-list, meaning that quarantine in a hotel is no longer the requirement. The country is planning to welcome visitors from Mid-May who have been vaccinated or can present a negative test result on arrival.