Travel lists created by the Government have guided holidays over the last few months. They exist in three categories that, until recently, came with varying attached restrictions. A “watchlist” sub-category also exists, however, used to indicate when ministers want to tighten the rules.
Can you travel to “watchlist” countries?
For vaccinated people, the amber travel list is currently identical to its minimal measures green counterpart.
They can return from amber listed nations without the need to quarantine and minimal testing.
Between green and amber is the green “watchlist”, a relatively new addition to the roster.
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Transport secretary Grant Shapps has refused to rule it out, and other ministers have defended the proposal.
Speaking to Sky News today, Matt Warman, the minister for digital infrastructure, said it would allow people to make informed decisions with the watchlist.
He added people have to bear in mind that “other countries are in a range of other positions.”
Tory backbenchers, Labour and holiday industry experts have all reacted negatively to the prospect.
Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy The PC Agency, told ITV’s Good Morning Britain it would be a “disaster”.
And Labour Party chair Anneliese Dodds said the Government must avoid” additional confusion and chaos”.
She said: “What we’ve said for months as the Labour party is that the Conservative Government need to be open and transparent, they need to be actually publishing the data that they’re taking their decisions on.
“They need to be also seeking that agreement around vaccine passports internationally that they’ve said they’re trying to do, but we’ve seen no evidence of progress there.”
