Five new countries added to FCO 'travel corridor' list

Greg Dickinson
·24 min read
As of today, Slovenia is now on the list of countries Britons can visit without going into quarantine on return - Getty
As of today, Slovenia is now on the list of countries Britons can visit without going into quarantine on return - Getty

 

As of today, five new countries have been added to the UK's quarantine-free list.

Britons returning from Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Lithuania and St Vincent and the Grenadines can do so without the need to self-isolate for 14 days.

The update to the list, which was announced on Friday but comes into force today, comes just days after the Government controversially added mainland Spain to the UK's quarantine list. Yesterday, the Balearics and Canary Islands were added to that list.

This means Britons can now visit 31 countries that are both FCO 'green', meaning there is no travel advice against visiting that country, and which do not require quarantine on return.

Holiday favourites including France, Italy and Greece remain on that list, although there has been some concern that countries like Germany and France could soon be removed if cases continue to rise.

See below for more updates.

04:09 PM

What did we learn today?

  • Nicola Sturgeon tells Scots the 'safest way' to go on holiday is to stay local
  • Quarantine to be cut to 10 days for people arriving from Spain 
  • Torquay B&B named best in the world by Tripadvisor 
  • Cayman Islands makes arrivals wear a “BioButton” to avoid quarantine 
  • Half of Brits going to Spain say they won't quarantine on return
  • South-east Asia likely to remain closed until at least autumn 
  • Europe seeing 'signs of second wave', warns Boris Johnson 

Scroll down for the full stories, and see you tomorrow for more live updates from the world of travel.

03:58 PM

Algarve to host this year's Grand Prix, and promises spectators

This year’s Formula 1 Grand Prix will be hosted in Portugal’s Algarve for the first time this autumn, Annabel Fenwick Elliott reports.

The racing event will be held at the winding Autodromo Internacional do Algarve road in Portimao over the weekend of October 23, at a venue with a capacity for 100,000 guests that comprises a karting track, five-star hotel, and a sports complex.

“There will be spectators,” promised Portugal’s tourism minister Rita Marques of the F1 event. “We are working on a number of scenarios depending on the health situation.”

UK tourists are few and far between in the Algarve, usually a holiday favourite - Getty

It’s good news for the country’s tourism industry, which continues to suffer badly as a result of the pandemic, not least because it relies heavily on British visitors but remains off the FCO’s ‘safe list’ during what should be peak season. 

Read the full report here.

03:51 PM

'I took out warzone insurance to go on holiday to Spain'

Jack Peak writes:

"Finding insurance to cover my trip, including any impact coronavirus might have, was surprisingly easy, in fact it was undoubtedly easier than trawling through the usual comparison websites (my typical process when insuring for a holiday). 

"I booked directly with battleface – a company that develops policies to insure people and organisations that find it difficult to obtain cover when working outside their home country or travelling to difficult places, such as reporters, humanitarian aid groups and media production teams. War zones, for example."

Read his full story here.

03:30 PM

Plea for help from mountain rescue team

Mountain rescue teams in the Lake District have issued a plea for help today after the number of incidents on the fells has skyrocketed in recent weeks, Lucy Aspden reports.

A post issued on Keswick Mountain Rescue Team’s Facebook page urged visitors to act responsibly when visiting the area, explaining Cumbria Police and mountain rescue teams across the county have seen a ‘tidal wave of avoidable rescues’ recently.

On Sunday the Wasdale Mountain Rescue team released details of a five-year-old St Bernard dog, which had to be rescued from Scafell, England’s highest mountain, after it refused to walk any further – it took 16 volunteer rescuers five hours to transport Daisy the dog to safety.

‘Inexperienced’ and ‘ill prepared’ walkers are being blamed for the spike in callouts, with the team saying the recent wet Cumbrian weather has caught many people off guard – some of whom venture into the fells without sufficient phone battery or supplies.

 

03:02 PM

Europe seeing 'signs of second wave', warns Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson has defended the Government's decision to impose quarantine restrictions on Spain, saying there are signs of a second wave of coronavirus in Europe.

Speaking as he unveils further components to the Government's obesity campaign, the Prime Minister said it would be up to individuals to decide whether they wanted to take the risk of going abroad in the present circumstances.

But he warned:

"Let's be absolutely clear about what's happening in Europe, amongst some of our European friends, I'm afraid you are starting to see in some places the signs of a second wave of the pandemic."

Mr Johnson also appeared to confirm the Telegraph's exclusive story this morning, revealing plans are being readied to cut the quarantine period from 14 days to just 10.  

Asked about it today, he said: "We are always looking at ways in which we can mitigate the impact of the quarantine, try to help people, try to make sure that the science is working to help travellers and holidaymakers."

02:46 PM

Bad news for airlines from industry body IATA

02:43 PM

The smug abuse of those who dared to take a holiday in Spain needs to stop

"If you ever thought a totalitarian regime would be sent packing by British society, the last few months have been a wake-up call. We’ve proven ourselves to be a nation of Stasi volunteers in waiting," writes Oliver Smith, who says it's time to stop criticising those who dared to book a holiday to Spain this summer.

Read his argument, here.

02:19 PM

Watch: Spain quarantine restrictions 'subject to change', says minister

Would-be holidaymakers must "accept there is a degree of uncertainty" if they travel abroad this summer, a minister has said, noting the Government will "reserve the right" to impose restrictions on any country if cases start to rise.  

Simon Clarke, the local government minister, told the BBC: "The reality is people travelling abroad will have to accept that there is a degree of uncertainty.

"As the situation changes on the ground, we have to reserve the right to take action to keep the British public safe."

Watch the full interview below.

01:54 PM

The UK has finally embraced a Continental approach to leisure

It’s a rather endearing British trait to use terms such as “French”, “Spanish” or “Italian” as glowing compliments. It’s a less endearing trait to use the word “foreign” as a disparaging sneer, but when we get specific – Nordic! Californian! Moroccan! – we mean it as the highest of accolades.

A nice breakfast terrace at a B&B in Suffolk? “Ooh, this is just like Tuscany!” Sleek, hygienic interiors and well-groomed staff at a boutique hotel in Birmingham? “This is all a bit Scandi, no?” Pavement seating outside a café in Margate? “I feel like I’m in Mykonos!”

Margate

This month, as hotels, restaurants, B&Bs and bars have reopened their doors post-lockdown, I’ve felt every inch the tourist in my adopted hometown of Margate. The streets are different to the ones I walked last summer. Every café and restaurant has had to rethink what they do.

And some measures feel thoroughly Continental.

01:37 PM

'I'm off to France instead': Readers react to Spanish travel ban

‘Two trips we booked have been cancelled’

Ellie Gray

We had a holiday booked in June to Fuerteventura. Obviously this didn't go ahead. We rebooked for September as the Canaries had such low numbers of Covid cases.

It looks as though we won't be going there either. I have no idea why the Canary Islands are now on the list as it appears to be less risky than here in the UK.

I certainly cannot afford to quarantine for two weeks after a 10 day holiday. The decision seems to be totally irrational, but that seems to be this government's mode of operation throughout the Covid crisis. 

Two trips we have booked have been cancelled and we had to fight to get a refund for the first trip. Disappointed is not the word. 

'My teenagers need to be back in college in September'

Katie Brader

I have a holiday booked for Mallorca at the end of August. 

I am now unsure whether I will still travel due to the quarantine rules as my teenagers need to be back in college in September. 

‘We are now going to France for two weeks’

Steve May 

We had a four-week trip planned to Spain, leaving tomorrow, which we have now cancelled. We are now going to France for two weeks. 

Quarantine would not have been a problem, it is the FCO advice which means we wouldn’t be able to get insurance.

Read the full article here.

01:11 PM

British Airways faces strike threat over job cuts

British Airways faces strike action over its plans to cut jobs, pay and conditions, the BBC has reported.

The trade union Unite, which represents British Airways cabin crew, said the airline is planning to fire and rehire thousands of its workers and that it planned to defend its members by moving towards industrial action.

British Airways has threatened job cuts

BA announced it April that it would be cutting up to 12,000 jobs to stay afloat.

12:57 PM

Uncertainty around overseas travel sparks UK tourism boom

It has been declared the summer of the staycation. First came the pictures of busy beaches in Bournemouth and then self-catering stays started soaring. And now, with the Government’s sudden reintroduction of quarantine measures for travellers returning from Spain, foreign holidays seem a risk too far for some and breaks in the UK even more appealing. 

There is evidence that the new restrictions have already led to a boom in bookings. 

Camping in the UK - Getty

Emma Beaumont investigates.

12:52 PM

South-east Asia likely to remain closed until at least autumn

If you're planning that trip to south-east Asia, it may have to be postponed until at least the autumn.

Indonesia remains closed to incoming UK tourists

Read our expert's take on the situation in south-east Asia, here.

12:41 PM

South Africa hotels are hosting clandestine stays

Heather Richardson writes:

"In June, there was a flicker of hope as intra-provincial leisure tourism was permitted. Businesses excitedly geared up for their first guests – only for the government to announce there had been a mistake in their comms, and accommodation for leisure was in fact still prohibited.

"After the u-turn, many South African accommodations simply decided to make their own rules. The owner of a three-chalet self-catering lodge on the popular Garden Route – who wishes to remain anonymous – told me many of her booked-in guests came anyway. Having been closed for four months, she’d received no government support, but had managed to keep paying her two employees. Many other properties, with no alternative way of making ends meet, are also catering for leisure guests."

Read the full report here.

12:17 PM

Nicola Sturgeon tells Scots the 'safest way' to go on holiday is to stay local

Scotland's First Minister has urged people to stay within the nation for their summer holidays, as she announced another day without coronavirus-related deaths, reports Cat Neilan.

Nicola Sturgeon said she was "very pleased and indeed very relieved" that there had been no increase, but stressed that could quickly change. 

Pointing to the situation in Spain, Ms Sturgeon said the nation must remain "vigilant, careful and cautious". Scotland's progress had been "very significant and very welcome" but progress "remains fragile", she said. 

The SNP leader said she was "highly concerned, possible increasingly concerned" about the outbreaks in other parts of the world including Europe, noting that quarantine guidance may change quickly as it has done with Spain. 

"The safest way of [taking a holiday] is doing so right here in Scotland," she added, saying it would benefit the local tourist industry. 

12:09 PM

British tourist: "If the government wants to screw me over, they can pay for it"

Holidaymaker Tim Whitehouse is understandably furious having taken his children to southern Spain thinking it was a safe bet for a getaway. He was supposed to return to work tomorrow, at a factory where he employs more than 200 people. Hear how he plans to respond to the situation below:

11:58 AM

Comment: Our holidays may benefit from this crisis after all

... so says Nick Trend, who reckons that in spite of it all, some good may come from all the negatives of the past four months, with the lessons learnt. Better holiday protection in the future, a renewed appreciation for tour operators, and, he writes:

"My hope is that destinations such as Venice, Dubrovnik, Barcelona and Amsterdam – which have suffered badly from intensive tourism in recent years – will find inspiration in the sharp reduction of visitor numbers over the past few months.

Before the pandemic, overtourism was becoming a significant and intractable problem. Now at least there is some breathing space to think how best to manage things in the future."

11:49 AM

Tigers have made a surprising comeback from near-extinction

A bit of good news for you. It's Global Tiger Day, and the WWF has announced that the world tiger population is growing.

It comes as the charity marks the ten year anniversary of TX2, an ambitious drive to double their population by 2022, the next Year of the Tiger. 

Numbers are on the up in Bhutan, China, India, Nepal and Russia; five of the 13 target ranges. The initiative was launched in 2010 when there were estimated to be as few as 3,200 wild tigers remaining. In some of these regions, their numbers have since doubled.

In light of this, and for those keen for a tiger adventure (when we can travel again), Annabel Fenwick Elliott looks are the best places to see them in their natural habitat, where they belong.

bhutan - Emmanuel Rondeau / WWF-UK

11:23 AM

Half of Brits going to Spain say they won't quarantine on return

In a poll run by Telegraph Travel, more than half of Britons who say they will continue with their holiday to Spain will not go into quarantine on their return.

Here's what happens if you break FCO or quarantine advice. 

11:06 AM

'We're baffled and exasperated' – Majorca reels, but Britons are still booking

Members of the travel industry in Majorca has expressed their ire after the UK's 'bombshell' decision to take Spain off its 'safe list' and demand visitors quarantine upon their return. 

Ulisses Marreiros, general manager of luxury five-star hotel, La Residencia in Deia in northwest Majorca, where not one case of the virus has been recorded, expressed frustration. He said:

“We opened last Friday and the next evening the new ruling was announced. It was a complete bombshell. We rely heavily on the UK market and naturally cancellations followed swiftly. We are being as flexible as possible with our cancellation policy and on a positive note, many loyal clients are still coming in spite of the restrictions."

Meanwhile in Palma, Miguel Feliz, general manager of deluxe five-star, Sant Francesc Hotel Singular, said:

“Historically in July and August, the UK is our number one market so this has come as a real blow. We were one of the first hotels to open in the capital and have assiduously followed health and safety protocols for the benefit of our guests. We had sincerely hoped that the UK would make an exception for the Balearics given that it is such a safe destination at this time but that appears not to be the case.”

Read the full report from Anna Nicolas here.

10:58 AM

What exactly are the UK holiday quarantine rules?

The UK's quarantine rules are rather more draconian than we're used to.

Returning travellers told to quarantine are not permitted to leave the house to shop unless they have run out of supplies and nobody else can go for them.

They are not permitted to leave for exercise, even a quick jog around the block. Furthermore, there is no “reasonable excuse” clause, which Dominic Cummings notoriously used to his advantage. 

The only reasons those self-isolating can leave are:

  • To leave England To seek medical assistance
  • To fulfil a legal obligation (like a court hearing)
  • To avoid injury (eg. the house is on fire)
  • On compassionate grounds (eg. funeral)
  • To obtain necessities where no-one else can do so on their behalf
  • To access critical public services
  • To move to a new place of self-isolation, but this must be previously outlined in the Passenger Locator Form or for a very good reason (eg. the house has burnt down)

Read the full article from Oliver Smith ​here.

10:51 AM

The hills are alive with the sound of music

A round of applause and cheers from the audience were replaced by honking horns and flashing headlights on Sunday at a Swiss classical music festival, writes Lucy Aspden.

Music fans enjoyed the delights of the Festival du Lied from the comfort of their cars at a car park in the Alpine village of Charmey, in west Switzerland, which hosted an open-air stage and broadcast performances on a giant screen.

Charmey - Getty

The festival, which has been running for nearly 20 years, adopted a new drive-in approach so that concertgoers could still enjoy the event safely amidst the pandemic. While cars were permitted to have no more than four occupants, there was also seating for up to 100 people, spaced apart in the car park.

Charmey - Getty

"The emotions derived from music and art in general are something we have all been missing greatly during this period,” mezzo-soprano Marie-Claude Chappuis, who created the festival in 2001, told AFP.

Charmey - Getty

"It is very important to continue making music, but also to continue being careful.”

10:33 AM

Scorchio in Italia

Forget the virus for a second while we remember what summer is usually all about – scorching temperatures and foreign holidays. Italy is bracing itself for its first heat wave of the year this week, writes Lucy Aspden.

Temperatures in southern Italy are expected to reach 40ºC, with the rest of the country basking in over 30ºC heat over the coming days. Rome and Florence are set to sizzle in 37ºC on Thursday while temperatures in Milan will reach 35ºC. 

The church of Santa Maria dell’Isola - Getty

Despite being at the epicenter of the virus earlier this year, Italy is now one of the 31 destinations British holidaymakers can visit without any restrictions or need to quarantine on their return. Are you planning on visiting Italia soon?

Pre-plan your sunbathing on Italy’s 20 best beaches. 

10:25 AM

No 10 quarantine U-turn is straight out of The Thick of It

Alexandra Phillips imagined the scene like a sketch from The Thick Of It.

The Government’s communications maestros get the call.

“The scientific advisors think returning holiday makers could cause another influx of cases. In Spain the numbers are on the up again. They advise imposing a mandatory two-week quarantine on all people coming back.”

“We’ve got to be on the front foot for this one. We’re already under fire for imposing lockdown too late. Let’s get the Transport Secretary in to announce the end of the air bridge with Spain. Where’s Grant?”

“He’s on holiday. In Spain.”

Read her article dissecting the UK Government's recent strategic steps, when it comes to quarantining holidaymakers.

10:12 AM

Exclusive: Cost of a European city break has fallen by a third due to pandemic

The cost of a hotel stay in Europe’s most popular cities has fallen by up to a third since the beginning of the pandemic, exclusive research for Telegraph Travel shows.

Amsterdam, Barcelona and Rome, typically some of the most expensive destinations for Britons, saw the largest falls, with the cost of two nights in a three-star hotel down 36 per cent in the Dutch capital.

Read the full report here.

09:54 AM

Cayman Islands makes arrivals wear a “BioButton” to avoid quarantine

 Once the Cayman Islands reopen to international tourism in September, they are giving tourists the option to avoid quarantine by wearing a "biobutton" for 14 days.

Tourists must provide a negative Covid-19 test 72 hours before travelling, and then make a choice between:

  • 14-day quarantine in a government facility
  • 5-day quarantine at their own accommodation
  • Wear a ‘biobutton’ for 14 days, and take a Covid-19 test five days after arrival
Cayman Islands

The biobutton that allows tourists to avoid quarantine will “passively monitor incoming travellers for early symptoms associated with COVID-19.” The device will monitor heart and breathing rate, as well as skin temperature.

09:29 AM

Torquay B&B named best in the world by Tripadvisor

The world’s best B&B has been found – and it’s in Torquay. According to Tripadvisor, at least.

No longer is the seaside Devonshire town to be associated with the farcical antics of hotel owner Basil Fawlty, but instead for the modern havens to be found amid the palms.

Without further ado, this is, allegedly, the world's finest B&B.

09:13 AM

The 'significant change' that led to Spain quarantine

Addressing members of the Cabinet’s “Covid-O” committee on Saturday afternoon, Chris Whitty made one thing clear: doing nothing was not an option.

The six senior ministers on the video call had just been given the news they had been dreading - that Britons had started to import coronavirus from a country deemed “safe” by the Government.

Read Gordon Rayner's full report on why Spain was added to the UK quarantine list, here.

09:02 AM

UK quarantine is "inappropriate", says Spanish Prime Minister

In an interview for Telecinco, Pedro Sanchez – Spain's Prime Minister – said the decision to quarantine tourists arriving from the country into the UK was 'unmeasured' and "inappropriate".

09:00 AM

Are airport Covid-19 tests the answer to ending the UK quarantine?

A growing number of commentators are asking whether quarantine measures are necessary at all, as more European countries switch to airport-based Covid tests as an alternative – combining the need to contain Covid-19 with the need to save thousands of desperately struggling tourism businesses, Tom Mulvihill reports.

This is the lowdown on how airport testing could work.

08:44 AM

Spain tourist official speaks out against UK quarantine

Javier Piñanes, director of the Spanish Tourist Office in the UK says

“As outlined by our Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, we do not feel that this decision by the UK government is adjusted to the epidemiological situation in the country.  We regret this decision but we do respect it.

"In accordance with the messages from our Ministry of Health and Foreign Affairs, I would like to outline the following points.

"We believe that the situation is in a controlled phase regarding the pandemic. Outbreaks were expected to appear and are being detected early and are being controlled with an early response plan agreed with Spain’s regions. In areas with bigger outbreaks such as Barcelona, Lleida and Zaragoza, the respective Autonomous Communities (or regions) have taken very forceful measures with regards to social distancing, which will allow them to regain control.

"Of the new cases detected, more than half are asymptomatic, which demonstrates the screening work being carried out with more than 4 million PCR tests already having been carried out. It is also important to note that hospital pressure remains low acute beds are below 1,500 patients and critical beds are around 160.

"Finally, just to outline that the death rate in Spain remains very low; patients deceased by Covid in the last seven days totals approximately 10 people. 

"Safety is our number one priority and we hope that the UK travel advice is revised soon to help the travel sector that has invested so much resource to allow a safe and secure reopening.”

Here's everything you need to know about the situation in Spain.

08:31 AM

Social distancing has made nightclubs "infinitely better"

So says Greg Dickinson, who visited a club in Amsterdam last Thursday.

"There was a very limited capacity, no more than 45 people, which was enough to feel atmospheric without being irresponsibly packed in the aftershock of a pandemic. Best of all, my friend and I could actually hear each other speak.

"I suppose what I’m really describing here is a makeshift, low-capacity bar with live music. There’s nuance to this, of course. Clubs can only stay alive if they are getting enough bodies through the door and buying drinks, so once it’s possible they will go back to capacity. Queues and crowds will and must return. But in the meantime, this is a form of clubbing I can get into."

Doka Studio

Read his full report here.

08:26 AM

Germany blames rise in cases on people returning from Spain

The daily statement from Germany’s Robert Koch Institute, the federal government agency and research institute responsible for disease control and prevention, last Friday made for disconcerting reading: “The number of newly submitted cases on Friday, July 24, 2020, at 815, is significantly higher than in the previous weeks,” it said.

These numbers represent the sharpest spike since the middle of May. The report offers various reasons, ranging from larger celebrations in family and friend circles, increased leisure activities, to rises within workplaces, community and health facilities.

A new testing facility at Dusseldorf Airport - Getty

But it also mentions returning travellers as a new cause, a point which is underlined by images circulating in the media of German tourists flouting social distancing rules in destinations such as Mallorca and Bulgaria.

Read the full report here.

08:14 AM

Quarantine to be cut to 10 days for people arriving from Spain

Quarantine for people arriving from Spain and other countries with high levels of Covid-19 will be cut to 10 days under plans being finalised by ministers, Charles Hymas reports.

The Government hopes to announce this week a new policy of testing arrivals from high-risk countries eight days after they land. If they test negative they will be allowed to come out of self-isolation two days later, reducing the mandatory quarantine period by four days.

The move will cut almost an entire working week off the self-isolation requirement, and ministers hope it will help salvage the summer holiday season for some of those already booked on flights abroad.

Read the full article here.

07:42 AM

What happened yesterday

A big day in the world of travel, yesterday. Let's bring you up to speed.

  • FCO tightened Spain ban to include Balearics and Canary Islands
  • Austria, however, lifted restrictions on UK visitors
  • The Government has been urged to ditch its quarantine in favour of airport testing
  • Only one person has been fined for breaking quarantine rules
  • Uncertainty over foreign trips has sparked a boom in UK holiday bookings

Follow all the latest news, as it happens