People will need to be double vaccinated to travel abroad "forevermore" according to the UK Government's transport minister.
Grant Shapps told Radio 4's Today programme: "I think double vaccination or full vaccination is going to be a feature forevermore. And most countries, probably all countries, will require full vaccination in order for you to enter."
He said he "hoped people will be able to go away under the simplified system and not be looking over their shoulder the whole time". He added: "As long as they follow the processes they can have a great time."
Read more : People arriving in the UK from France will no longer have to quarantine if they are double-jabbed
Host Nick Robinson put it to him that the rules could change, especially for those booking holidays for beyond the next few weeks.
Mr Shapps responded: "It is a reality that in this new world we're living with coronavirus and, as we've done domestically with the unlock, learning to live with it, with international travel as well.
He also clarified rules on travel to Spain after being asked if the Government was "worried about Spain".
In an announcement on Wednesday, August 4, the UK Government said people arriving from Spain and all its islands are also being advised to use a PCR test as their pre-departure test wherever possible as a precaution against the increased prevalence of the virus and variants in the country. That is being recommended given the risk to the UK of importation of variants of concern, specifically the B.1.621 and Beta variants, as well as traveller volumes and positivity rates in Spain.
Mr Shapps said that "PCR tests are very helpful" to scientists in both the UK and Spain but said the rules hadn't changed and denied Spain was going to be added to a so-called "amber watch list".
The Welsh Government has said it is "considering" the changes announced by UK Government. In a statement on Wednesday a Welsh Government spokesman said: "“We have long called for a clearer system of rules regarding international travel. The ad hoc nature of the decisions made by the UK Government on the issue does little to instil confidence or provide clarity for travellers.
"We continue to advise against all but essential travel abroad because of the continuing risk of infection including with new variants of coronavirus which may not respond to our vaccines. We will consider the latest changes announced by the UK Government."
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