Italy, Greece, Spain and France look set to miss out on making an updated travel ‘green’ list – but popular holiday islands could be included, it emerged last night.
Experts said the most recent data on infection and vaccination rates meant the prospect of the popular mainland destinations going green when the list is reviewed next week was unlikely.
However, there was hope that some Spanish and Greek islands may go green. Malta, Finland and several Atlantic and Caribbean islands are also tipped to make the list.
The much-anticipated first review of the green list, which currently comprises just 12 destinations, will take place on Thursday. Any changes will come into force the following week.
Yesterday an analysis by the Mail revealed several Canary, Balearic and Greek islands now have infection and vaccination rates similar to Portugal’s when it made the green list earlier this month.
Spain’s tourism minister said he hopes some of the country will make it onto the UK’s green list. Spanish authorities are allowing Brits to travel into the country without quarantining but UK rules mean people have to self-isolate when they return and the Government is advising against travelling there (Pictured: Women on a beach in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol)
The Balearic islands are also carrying out a high proportion of genome sequencing – a key criteria for making the green list.
Experts Robert Boyle, a former BA strategist, and Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy The PC Agency, both agreed it was unlikely Spain, Greece, Italy and France will make the green list.
Spain’s 14-day average infection rate is currently around 139.71 per 100,000 of the population, Italy’s 135.77 and Greece’s 259.36. By contrast, Portugal’s is 55.60 and was around 49 when it made the green list. Vaccination rates in Spain, Italy and Greece also lag behind the UK’s.
However, Mr Boyle and Mr Charles identified Malta, Finland and some Spanish islands as strong candidates for the green list. Mr Boyle also tipped some Greek islands while Mr Charles said a clutch of Caribbean islands are in contention.
Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2.com, said: ‘There is a scientific case and a data-led case for more destinations to be put on the green list.’
Jonathan Hinkles, chief executive of Loganair, said: ‘Public health is the priority, that has to rank above economics health, but we believe those objects can be safely achieved by putting more countries onto the green list.’
It came as a row broke out after Ireland announced it will maintain 14-day quarantine measures for British travellers over fears about the Indian variant.
But Ireland will drop the 14-day quarantine restrictions for the rest of the European Union. France, Germany and Austria have all imposed tougher entry restrictions or banned Britons travelling for non-essential reasons from entering.
Irish budget carrier Ryanair called the claims about the spread of the Indian variant being of concern to the Irish government, and the reason for continued restrictions, as ‘bogus’.
Under current rules, Britons can travel restriction-free to Northern Ireland, and cross the border into the Republic of Ireland. But they face 14 days in quarantine if they travel directly by plane or ferry.
Travel chiefs are pushing for holidays abroad to get back to normal as soon as they can after airlines suffered crippling financial losses last year.
EasyJet boss John Lundgren said: ‘You have a number of countries in Europe that are now on the amber list that should go into the green list.’
Ministers committed to regular three-weekly reviews of the traffic light list and will do their first re-assessment on June 3, the Independent reported, with changes starting a week later.
Top candidates for the green light are expected to be Malta; the Balearics which include Mallorca, Minorca, Ibiza and Formentara; Tenerife and Greek islands such as Rhodes, Kos, Zante and Santorini.
Spain’s tourism minister, Fernando Valdes, said he hoped at least parts of the country would be put onto Britain’s green list.
The country has already opened its doors to people from the UK, but travellers would have to quarantine for nearly two weeks when they got home from their holiday.
In most places on the green list already – particularly Australia and New Zealand – travel home to Britain is fine but the foreign governments won’t let Brits in.
The fast-spreading Indian variant is now dominating in Britain and many countries are only just coming out the other side of the Kent strain taking over, meaning they will be wary about importing cases from the UK.
Mr Valdes said: ‘With our notification rates which are pretty low and by the same notification range of the UK, so I have to suspect that on the next review that the UK Government can provide… Spain is going to change on its notification.’
Crowds were pictured flocking to airports for the first time in months when flying abroad became legal again in May, but most are holding off on holidays.
Top scientists have said they would avoid international travel and government ministers have discouraged it, urging people to make plans at home instead or, if they do want to go abroad, to stick to green list nations.
On Monday Business Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan said on Times Radio: ‘The reality is, at the moment, amber countries are still not meeting the criteria for our scientists to say that they should be green.
‘So the recommendation remains ‘don’t go unless you have to’, and remember that, if you do go, you will have to quarantine for 10 days and that will be monitored.’