'Christmas in jeopardy': UK Canary Island holidaymakers bemoan travel corridor changes

Watch: Canary Islands removed from travel corridors list

Brits holidaying in the Canary Islands have been left fearing that their Christmas is cancelled after the holiday hotspot was removed from the UK’s travel corridors list.

On Thursday the government announced that people arriving in the UK from the popular Spanish islands from 4am on Saturday must self-isolate for 14 days.

For many British holidaymakers, the change means they could have to self-isolate throughout Christmas.

The new ‘test and release’ scheme, set to start on December 15, means the quarantine period can be shortened if people pay to take a coronavirus test at least five days after they land and receive a negative result but for many the change has put a dampener on their winter break.

Vicki Jackson, from south Manchester, landed in Gran Canaria on Thursday - just as the news was announced.

“I come here all the time because my parents have a place here,” she told Yahoo News UK. “I’m literally only here until Monday and now will have to self-isolate. I just couldn’t believe it. I wouldn’t have risked it if I’d known because it throws the whole of Christmas into jeopardy.”

The estate agent had planned to spend Christmas with her parents and said missing out on that after such a difficult year just wasn’t an option, so she will likely try to take part in the test and release scheme.

“I can’t cancel Christmas. I won’t. It’s been too much of a tough year. I’ve only seen my parents once this year.

“I might stay a bit longer now - I may as well - but try to do test and release. It’s just turning out to be quite expensive, after paying for the test to get here and now having to pay extra for another test.”

Holidaymakers also voiced frustrations that the Canary Islands are being counted as a single destination, rather than each different island assessed depending on their rates.

Steve Hay, from Bournemouth, arrived on Lanzarote on Thursday for a seven-day break with his family, costing more than £2,000.

He said his they “looking at options” because self-isolating for 14 days on their return would taken them up to December 31.

“I think it’s shocking and doesn’t appear much thought has gone into it,” he said. “Why is it being implemented so quick?

“I think it’s crazy and the Canaries cannot be looked at as a whole, each island should be rated.”

Tour operator Tui said it has around 5,000 UK holidaymakers on the Canary Islands, and a further 800 were booked to fly out on Friday morning.

The company, which has been lobbying the Government alongside travel and airline associations to change its travel advice policy, is offering customers due to be on the islands between Friday and December 17 the chance to change their dates or choose another destination.

It will continue to operate flights unless the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) toughens its travel advice in relation to the islands.

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