Graeme Buck, Director of Communications at ABTA said:

“It is great news that from 19 July double vaccinated travellers in England will be able to return from amber list destinations without needing to self-isolate.

“Crucially, these changes make it easier to travel to a number of summer holiday hotspots – including Spain’s Canary Islands and Rhodes, Kos, Zakynthos, Crete and Corfu in Greece – which are currently on the amber list but where the Foreign Office isn’t advising against all but essential travel. These popular destinations offer miles of beautiful beaches, gorgeous sunny weather and delicious local cuisine – and are also accepting proof of vaccination status for entry. This means that British travellers who have received both doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine won’t need to provide a negative test result in order to enter, instead they will be able to use the NHS COVID Pass to show that they have been fully vaccinated.

“This adds to the popular holiday destinations that are currently on the green list, including Malta, Madeira, the Balearic Islands and several islands in the Caribbean, where travellers – whether vaccinated or not – also don’t need to isolate on their return to the UK.

“Anyone who hasn’t been vaccinated will still be able to enjoy a holiday to an amber list destination, but will need to quarantine at home on their return and take a test on day eight. Those in England will also have the option to use the Test to Release scheme on day five.  

“Further information on how to demonstrate your vaccination status – and advice on booking and travelling with confidence this year – is available at www.abta.com/readysteadytravel.”

 Travel to the Canary Islands – what you need to know:

• You will need to show proof of being fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to your arrival, with a vaccine authorised by the European Medicines Agency or by the World Health Organisation, or documentation issued within 48 hours prior to your arrival that shows proof of a negative COVID-19 test, e.g. PCR, TMA, LAMP or NEAR.
• You may be subject to a temperature check or visual health assessment when you arrive.
• You are advised to check the Foreign Office advice for Spain and the Canary Islands before travelling.
• When travelling home, you will need to take a COVID-19 test before you leave the Canary Islands and another PCR test on or before day two of your return to the UK. If you haven’t yet been fully vaccinated, you’ll also need to take a test on day eight of your return and self-isolate at home.
• You will need to complete a Passenger Locator Form up to 48 hours before you return to the UK.

Travel to the Greek Islands of Rhodes, Kos, Zakynthos, Corfu and Crete – what you need to know:

• You need to fill in a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) no later than 11:59pm (local time Greece) of the day before arriving in Greece.
• You will need to provide either: proof of two COVID-19 vaccinations completed at least 14 days before travel; proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours before arrival into Greece; or proof of a negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test taken within 48 hours before the scheduled flight. Travellers with proof of either will not need to self-isolate on arrival.
• You may be required to undergo a rapid COVID-19 test on arrival.
• You are advised to check the Foreign Office advice for Greece before travelling.
• When travelling home, you will need to take a COVID-19 test before you leave for the UK and another PCR test on or before day two of your return to the UK. If you haven’t yet been fully vaccinated, you’ll also need to take a test on day eight of your return and self-isolate at home.
• You will need to complete a Passenger Locator Form up to 48 hours before you return to the UK.

ABTA’s checklist for travelling with confidence includes:

• Speak to an ABTA Member travel professional to find the best holiday for you and guide you through each step of the journey.
• Book a package holiday for the best form of protection for your travel plans.
• Check the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office travel advice for your destination to find the latest entry requirements and local rules relating to Coronavirus.
• Check the Government’s traffic light list to find out what you need to do for your journey back to the UK.
• Take out travel insurance as soon as you book and check its cover for Coronavirus.
• Make sure all your travel documents are in order, e.g. your passport validity meets entry requirements and you’ve applied for the visas you need.
• Research the new measures that will be in place on your journey and in-destination, e.g. the rules around face coverings and social distancing.

If you’re travelling to Europe, check what extra steps you need to take before you go at www.abta.com/Brexit. ABTA’s advice on travelling during the pandemic can be found at www.abta.com/readysteadytravel.

Notes to editors

ABTA has been a trusted travel brand for over 70 years. Our purpose is to help our Members to grow their businesses successfully and sustainably, and to help their customers travel with confidence. The ABTA brand stands for support, protection and expertise. This means consumers have confidence in ABTA and a strong trust in ABTA Members. These qualities are core to us as they ensure that holidaymakers remain confident in the holiday products that they buy from our Members.

We help our Members and their customers navigate through today's changing travel landscape by raising standards in the industry; offering schemes of financial protection; providing an independent complaints resolution service should something go wrong; giving guidance on issues from sustainability to health and safety and by presenting a united voice to government to ensure the industry and the public get a fair deal.

ABTA has more than 4,300 travel brands in Membership, providing a wide range of leisure and business travel services, with a combined annual UK turnover of £39 billion. For more details about what we do, what being an ABTA Member means and how we help the British public travel with confidence visit www.abta.com.