Doubts are mounting about foreign holidays this summer after a Tory minister failed to even promise they will be allowed at all.
Oliver Dowden warned travel for leisure or to see healthy family abroad will not automatically be permitted from May 17.
Mr Dowden said new strains of coronavirus and rising cases on the continent will pose “challenges for international travel” and there will need to be a “more cautious” approach.
A task force will examine “whether and how” foreign travel is possible, the Culture Secretary warned - appearing to raise the bleak prospect that it could remain banned in some form.
Mr Dowden told Times Radio: “If we can enable international travel in a safe way, of course we will allow that to happen.”
It comes after government figures told the Sunday Times it could take until August to give foreign holidays the go-ahead.
Even then, reports suggest there could be a “traffic light” system with shorter quarantine, combined with testing, for “amber” lower-risk countries. Mr Dowden did not rule out this prospect.
Meanwhile Mr Dowden said “you can’t rule things out” when asked if the current lockdown will be England’s last.
And he admitted he cannot pledge all legal restrictions on social distancing will end in June, the earliest date set out in the roadmap. He told the BBC: “Of course they could be delayed if the situation deteriorates but at the moment we're on track."
Under the government’s road map for England, foreign travel for leisure would be allowed from May 17 at the earliest.
But the firm date is yet to be confirmed by the global travel task force, which is expected to issue an update at the end of the Easter weekend.
Concerns are growing that the UK’s vaccine progress could be put back if a resistant variant is imported on a large scale into the UK.
Asked if people would have to “give up foreign holidays” pretty much for this year, Mr Dowden told Times Radio: “Well clearly the situation in the rest of Europe is very worrying, and particularly given that in the past, rises in infections in Europe have led to rises in infections in the UK subsequently.
“I think this time round because we’ve made progress with the vaccine rollout, we can be hopeful that won’t happen. But it does point to having a more cautious approach.
“That’s why we’re having this international travel task force that is going to report at the very beginning of April.
“That will look at whether and how we could safely resume international travel.
“Of course all of us would love to have some sun over the summer but we have to do so in a safe way.”
Pressed again on whether foreign holidays are unlikely this summer, Mr Dowden again raised the question of “if” they would be allowed.
“We need to ensure that if there is international travel, it’s done in a safe way,” he said.
“Clearly you’re right to highlight the risk of new strains entering the UK and the challenges that will pose for international travel.”
He added: “If we can enable international travel in a safe way, of course we will allow that to happen. But you’re absolutely right to highlight the challenges faced with that.”
Encouraging Brits to take domestic breaks, he said: “And I should say also, as the minister responsible for tourism in the UK there are some fantastic opportunities to book breaks in the UK as well.”
Currently people face £5,000 fines for travelling abroad without a valid reason, such as for work or to visit a dying relative or attend a funeral. Domestic breaks with multiple households are due to be allowed from May 17 at the earliest in England.
Questioned by the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, Mr Dowden added: “[It’s] not actually the case that after May 17 we can go on holiday.
“What we have said is we’ll have this review of international travel led by the Transport Secretary - that’s going to report at the beginning of April.
“Clearly the situation on the continent is worrying. We’re seeing rising cases and it has been the case historically in previous waves that three weeks later it hits the UK.
“This time round, because of the progress with the vaccine, I think we can have more confidence it won’t hit us, but we do have to be vigilant.”
One “traffic light” scheme proposed by Heathrow Airport would create an “amber” list of countries with shorter quarantine.
Travellers to the UK would have to undergo tests within 72 hours of departure, and on arrival, and be released if they test negative on day three.
The government’s task force is examining the proposal, according to the Sunday Telegraph.
Asked about a idea of a traffic light system that could allow shorter quarantine periods with greater testing, Mr Dowden told Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday: "We're exploring all these issues as part of the international travel taskforce.
"We consider all options as part of the travel taskforce.
"Clearly there are challenges around international travel, you only have to look across the continent and see the rising case rates in many of our nearest neighbours.
"It has been in the past the case that those rising infection rates have seen their way to the UK, we're hopeful that won't happen this time round because of our progress with the vaccine and so on, but we do need to be cautious about that."
