Thousands of UK holidaymakers could see their plans thrown into chaos amid suggestions a new category may be added to the travel traffic light system.
Popular hotspots could be given the controversial 'amber watchlist' status in the next travel rules review this week - but some experts have claimed it could be a bluff to discourage holiday bookings.
There is speculation Spain, including the Balearic Islands and Canary islands; Italy and Greece will be added to the amber watchlist. France, currently the only nation in the amber-plus category, is predicted to return to amber when updates are confirmed on Thursday.
The new category is aimed at warning holidaymakers that destinations could be downgraded at anytime because of Covid data.
However, travel experts have criticised the plans - labelling the policy as a deterrent to those planning on booking an overseas trip.
Simon Calder, wrote in The Independent: "The proposed “amber watchlist” is believed to be an empty threat aimed at dampening demand for travel to popular destinations with high coronavirus infection rates such as Spain’s Balearic islands.
"There is not enough capacity in the hotel quarantine system to accommodate returning holidaymakers. But the mere threat of red list status is proving enough to stop many people booking, or to switch away."
Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy The PC Agency, tweeted: “There’s no need for an amber watchlist, which would complicate the traffic light system even more.
“Just create a simple go and no-go list, as Americans have, enabling the fully-jabbed to travel at will. It’s not rocket science.”
He added it would be a “disaster” if the Government introduced a new travel traffic light category.
Ministers are due to meet on Thursday to review the traffic light system and decide the travel rules that will be in place for most of August.
The Daily Telegraph reported that Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is pushing for the “amber watchlist” idea to be shelved, while Chancellor Rishi Sunak reportedly told the Prime Minister that the UK’s entry and exit rules are “out of step with our international competitors” and are hurting the economy.
Latest research by hotel bookings platform, hoo, has found that 93 per cent of accommodation across the most popular UK locations has already been booked, up from 90 per cent just a month ago.
This means a severe shortage of suitable accommodation for any red-list quarantines.
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