More than a hundred British holidaymakers have been refused entry to Austria after they turned up without proof of a booster vaccination or without a valid negative PCR test result.
The refusals come as part of tough new measures in Austria for visitors from the UK, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway over fears of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
Airport officials in the Alpine city of Innsbruck, which receives a large number of British winter holidaymakers arriving at this time of year, refused 110 British visitors on Sunday.
The airport said these tourists had been turned away because they failed to either show a valid PCR test, after wrongly believing that it could be 72 hours old and not 48, or did not have the booster jab.
Most of those who were refused entry were able to fly back straightaway, but 40 travellers were unable to do so and had to be put up in a hotel in quarantine.
Police said that despite the disappointment, the British quarantine visitors had been disciplined, polite and understanding of the situation.
Earlier today, another 28 of those managed to fly back, leaving 12, including families with children, who were able to get up-to-date PCR tests and were allowed to move on to their holidays in Tyrol.
Elmar Rizzoli, head of the Corona Task Force, said: "In Great Britain, the coronavirus situation has deteriorated drastically due to the Omicron mutation.
"Many tourists are currently entering the country, but also people returning from the United Kingdom.
"These are all registered. The presence of the pre-travel clearance is also completely checked."
Austria had already tightened up rules and required all tourists to show proof of either a booster jab or a PCR test before flagging the UK as an Omricon hotspot.
A statement on the authority's website now reads: "Due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, the United Kingdom will be classified as a virus variant region from December 25 in Austria.
"Everyone travelling from the UK needs to quarantine for 10 days upon arrival.
"Exception: People who are fully vaccinated AND have received the booster can enter Austria with a negative PCR test."
