Spain wins a reprieve – but there’s a catch
Holidaymakers face more expensive Covid tests as country REMAINS on the amber list
FAMILIES returning from holidays in Spain this summer face even higher testing costs following the latest travel shake-up.
Ministers yesterday agreed that Spain will stay on the amber list, meaning fully-vaccinated travellers will not face quarantine on their return as had been feared.
But they will be advised to take a costly PCR test before they come back, rather than the cheaper lateral flow test currently required.
In a major boost for the tourism sector, quarantine restrictions will finally be lifted for France, with the country returning to the amber list. Seven European countries were placed on the green list, including Germany, Austria and Slovenia.
India and several Gulf states came off the red list, meaning travellers will no longer have to endure hotel quarantine on their return.
But Mexico and Georgia were placed on the red list, along with the French dependencies of La Reunion and Mayotte.
Thousands of Brits in Mexico face a race to get home before 4am on Sunday when the changes come into force.
After this, arrivals will have to quarantine in a hotel, the cost of which is also set to rise more than 30 per cent next week to £2,285.
Up to 600,000 Brits a year travel to Mexico. The country has been hit hard by Covid, but in recent weeks the Mexican government has been encouraging tourists to travel.
UK officials could not say last night how many British tourists are currently in the country.
The decision to place Mexico on the red list reflects worries about a new variant which originated in Colombia and which has concerned British scientists.
Rory Boland, travel editor at Which?, welcomed the addition of more green list countries, but warned that the constant chopping and changing would cause further disruption for many.
‘The cost for travellers can be significant,’ he said. ‘Some holidaymakers whose countries have now been placed in the red category will find that their airline or tour operator is unwilling to give them a refund.
‘We’re opening up safely’
Other providers won’t refund or even facilitate rebooking if a country is moved from green to amber.’
The latest shake-up follows days of speculation about Spain, where cases of the Beta variant have led to concern among Government scientists. The strain, which first emerged in South Africa, is feared to be more resistant to the AstraZeneca vaccine and officials are anxious to prevent its spread here.
At one point, ministers considered placing Spain on a new ‘amber watchlist’ to alert travellers to the danger it could go red.
Consideration was also given to putting the country on the ‘amber plus’ list like France.
But, responding to criticism that the system is too complex, ministers eventually decided to scrap both categories and leave Spain on the amber list.
The reprieve comes with a warning to travellers that they should take a gold-standard PCR test before catching their flight home.
The tests are more sensitive and can have their results analysed to detect potentially dangerous Covid variants. But they are also much more expensive. Spanish airline Iberia currently advertises a PCR test for 90 euros (£77), while a lateral flow test costs 40 euros (£34.20). For a family of four, the change will add an extra £171.20 to the cost.
The PCR test is not mandatory, but a Government spokesman last night said it should be used ‘wherever possible’.
Families also face paying for another PCR test two days after they return to the UK. The Government warned that UK clinicians and scientists ‘remain in close contact with their counterparts in Spain to keep abreast of the latest data and picture of cases’.
A Whitehall source acknowledged it would be a logistical nightmare to place Spain on the red list this summer – not least because of the huge amount of quarantine hotel rooms that would be needed – but said it could not be ruled out. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps last night said the Government was trying to balance the reopening of the travel sector with the need to protect the country.
He said: ‘We are committed to opening up international travel safely, taking advantage of the gains we’ve made through our successful vaccination programme, helping connect families, friends and businesses around the world.’
Labour called on ministers to publish the data behind the ‘flip-flopping’ travel decisions. Shadow transport secretary Jim McMahon said: ‘Ministers need to get a grip and set out a proper strategy, provide full data, and progress work with global partners on international vaccine passports so travellers and the industry can have clarity instead of reckless U-turns and confusion.’