Mixed message over amber list leaves problem with insurance

HOLIDAYMAKERS will face an insurance nightmare unless the Foreign Office drops its “arbitrary” ban on nonessential travel to 83 amber countries that will be opened to vaccinated Britons from July 19, consumer experts say.

The Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to destinations including Italy, the Bahamas, Montenegro, Germany, Austria and Slovenia because of the in-country Covid risks.

Yet from July 19 the Government will drop its amber travel ban to those countries and 77 others and allow fully vaccinated Britons and their children to visit without having to quarantine on return.

However, the Foreign and Commonwealth (FCDO) advice means any holidaymakers visiting them will not be covered by normal travel insurance and official tour operators will not organise trips because of the insurance risks.

The disparity stems from the criteria the FCDO applies to its advice, which is based on in-country risks such as the ability of the country’s health service to cope if Britons contract Covid there. By contrast, the red, amber and green traffic light system is largely based on the risk of Covid being brought to the UK.

Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, said: “Getting rid of unnecessary and expensive PCR testing at the upcoming criteria review is a priority.

“Why is it safe to travel to Spain and France but not Italy and Germany, if the risk of importing the virus is mitigated by the vaccines and testing?”