Health Secretary Matt Hancock has hinted that holidays abroad may not be allowed until the Autumn because of new variants.
Mr Hancock appeared on This Morning today to speak about the coronavirus roadmap as restrictions start to be relaxed.
He spoke to hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield about the prospect of international travel.
He said: "The biggest problem we've got is if there are new variants that the vaccine doesn't work against.
"We know there's a couple out there, but the vaccine works on all the variants we currently have in the UK.
"We are also working on a new vaccine that might come out in the Autumn that will work against new variants."
Phillip pushed Mr Hancock and said: "So does this mean there might not be holidays until the Autumn? Which variants are you worried about?"
Mr Hancock said: "The two we are worried about started in South Africa and Brazil and they've spread around the world a bit.
"We're doing the science on the variants and watching closely, if that goes well we will be much more relaxed about international travel, but it's too early to say right now."
The Health Secretary said that he would be going on holiday in the UK and was confident "we're going to have a great British summer."
Mr Hancock said he had sympathy for travel companies and wanted to get travel going "as soon as possible" but said that the government's priority was to protect the recovery in the UK, so the country wouldn't have to go into lockdown again.
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He said: "I wouldn't rule it (international travel) out, the door is not shut, but unlocking at home is on track."
Mr Hancock also confirmed the government were looking at vaccine passports for people to be able to prove they had had the jab if certain countries asked for proof.
He pointed to the example of Greece who have suggested people may need to be able to prove they've had a vaccine to visit the country.
*This Morning continues at 10am on ITV tomorrow
