Almost every country is to be taken off the UK's red travel list - with just nine forcing travellers into quarantine on their return from visiting, according to reports.
The green and amber lists have already been scrapped in new rules coming into force on Monday, meaning people who have both vaccine jabs are free to travel to most world destinations without having to quarantine for 10 days when they get home.
Expensive PCR testing for travellers looks set to be replaced with cheaper lateral flow testing by the end of this month, tentative plans from the UK government have suggested.
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However, The Telegraph says the 54 countries on the red list - which the Government says you should not visit - will be cut down to just nine.
It could mean the likes of South Africa, Brazil, Mexico and Indonesia are removed from the 'banned' travel list altogether, despite Covid rates remaining high.
But it remains to be seen whether Thailand will join them ahead of the rumoured announcement on Thursday.
A Whitehall source told the Sunday Telegraph the move would "lead to a spike in bookings by business travellers and holidaymakers" ahead of the winter months.
The newspaper added the move would help restore a sense of "normality" to travel to and from the UK.
