Travel agency On the Beach has pledged to continue its free Covid test deal for fully-jabbed holidaymakers through the 2022 summer season.
The offer applies to bookings made before October 31, 2021, with the company promising to cover the cost of tests required for fully vaccinated holidaymakers heading to Spain, Greece and Cyprus.
Tests will be automatically ordered when the holiday is booked and delivered to the customer a minimum of 48 hours prior to departure.
The online tour operator has also urged the UK government to confirm when PCR test regulations will be relaxed to allow less-costly lateral flows tests to be accepted for arrivals into the UK.
Ministers had promised to change the rules in time for half-term but the school holiday is approaching without any indication from the government.
Simon Cooper, chief executive of On The Beach, said: “With half term fast approaching, the government needs to give urgent clarity around its planned update to travel testing so that families can prepare, look forward to their holiday and travel with confidence.
“For many heading abroad during half term, this will be their first experience of travelling overseas in a long time and they may well feel unsure about what they need to do and what to expect. It is only fair to them – and absolutely critical in terms of restoring longer term confidence in travel – that they are given clarity, feel well-informed and able to plan for their holiday without unnecessary additional expense or stress.
“We’ve seen an incredible initial uptake of our free testing offer, so we know that it is in line with what consumers are looking for. The additional cost of tests as well as the hassle and inconvenience of arranging them is a significant barrier to booking a trip to the beach.
“We believe the need for testing to travel won’t disappear for some time yet.”
Following changes to testing requirements by the Welsh government, the offer now also extends to holidaymakers living in Wales, as well as the rest of the UK.
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