Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
World
Sophie McCoid

Every country UK tourists will be able to visit this summer

As the coronavirus vaccine programme continues at pace and cases continue to drop many of us are looking forward to a time when restrictions are eased.

After almost a whole year of being under some kind of restrictions lots of us are looking forward to going on holiday with our nearest and dearest.

Under Prime Minister Boris Johnson's current roadmap people in England won't be able to go away for a holiday in England until April 12 and then it can only be with your household.

But from May 17 there is the possibility that people could be allowed to travel abroad for a break in the sunshine.

Several countries have already said they are planning to welcome British tourists this summer, with some requiring holidaymakers to have been vaccinated before being allowed entry.

But others like Turkey have said they are not planning to ask for vaccine certification.

With this in mind we decided to round-up countries that British tourists might be able to travel to soon.

Turkey

Turkey is set to welcome UK holidaymakers this summer without needing proof of a coronavirus vaccine or a negative covid test.

Tourism minister Mehmet Ersoy said the country is "looking forward to welcoming British tourists with open arms".

Mr Ersoy said: "We have world-class border processes in place for ensuring travel will be low-risk throughout Turkey.

"We are working with the British authorities to ensure these necessary processes are world class and as up to date as possible.

"We will not require vaccination passports from international travellers when entering the country."

After April 15, Turkey will also re-evaluate whether visitors must continue to produce evidence of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of their departure.

Mr Ersoy said: "I expect there will be no such requirement from British visitors as the UK Government is rapidly and impressively rolling out the vaccination programme for the whole nation, and a significant portion of the population will be vaccinated by early summer."

He added that employees at hotels and other tourist facilities in Turkey will be prioritised for Covid-19 jabs before the summer season.

Cyprus

Cyprus will open its border to vaccinated Brits from the start of May.

The Cypriot government said those who had both jabs could travel without restrictions from May 1.

However, the date Cyprus has set to open its borders to Britons is still more than two weeks before the earliest people in England will be able to leave the country for holidays.

Cyprus's deputy tourism minister Savvas Perdios said the country would allow Britons who had been given vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency the right to enter without the need for a negative test or to quarantine.

Tourists would be required to have had their second dose at the latest seven days before travel, the minister added.

Cyprus has already struck a similar agreement allowing Israeli tourists to enter the country from April 1.

Greece

Greece is aiming to welcome British tourists from the middle of May.

Tourism minister Haris Theoharis said the country hopes to welcome foreign tourists from May 14, depending on the status of the coronavirus pandemic.

During a virtual appearance at travel trade show ITB Berlin, Mr Theoharis said: "We are approaching the exit from this dark tunnel thanks to the power of the human spirit and the progress of science.

"Please allow me to emphasise that no image could better portray the return to the normality of tourism than the Greek smile, the Greek landscape, the Greek hospitality.

"Regarding 2021, in Greece we are more than optimistic.

"We are ready, we are ready to share the experience of liberation from the unpleasant memories of the pandemic with each and every one of our guests."

Visitors will be required to have been vaccinated, had a recent negative Covid-19 test or have coronavirus antibodies, he explained.

A "pilot" reopening of borders is likely to take place early next month, he added.

Find your nearest vaccination centre by entering your postcode below

Spain

Pedro Homar, director of the Palma Tourism Board, told the Telegraph: “With the rate in which the UK is rolling out the vaccination, we are confident that the UK market will be one of the first to return to Palma.

"In terms of timings, we expect the UK market to return from around May onwards.

"This is obviously subject to the evolution of the pandemic both in the UK and in the Balearic Islands but we feel this is a realistic target.

“Whilst safety is the number one priority, we are eager to welcome back British visitors and we feel confident that by May, processes will be in place to enable us to do that."

France

France has eased its border restrictions for UK holidaymakers.

The French government announced that from Friday, March 12 the UK is one of seven countries outside the EU that people can travel from and to without justifying their journey.

The others are Australia, Israel, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and New Zealand.

Tourism minister Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne said people travelling to France from the seven countries will need evidence of a negative, coronavirus test taken within the previous 72 hours.

About 17 million British nationals normally visit France every year.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.