Should you Travel to Amber List Countries?

The government say that people should make up their own minds whether or not to travel for holidays to countries on the amber list.

There is a lot of confusion on the subject of travel, and advice surrounding the issue. Following the Covid-19 guidelines is a matter of “personal responsibility”.

Millions of holidaymakers are expected to defy government orders not to travel to amber destinations. This is despite warnings that trips should only be for essential or special circumstances, such as business or funerals. Prime Minister Boris Johnson stresses that these places are “not somewhere where you should be going on holiday”.

In addition, the Department for Transport advise people not to visit amber or red list countries for “leisure purposes”.

However, this is only guidance, it is not actual legislation. The advice is not to travel to these destinations at the moment for holidays and pleasure purposes. But there is no official ban to stop it.

The message is confusing

British travellers criticise the government’s travel advice for being confusing, calling it “botched”. The message on holidaying in amber list countries is unclear.

Under the latest Covid measures beginning on 17 May, travelling abroad for holidays is possible again. Travellers are not legally prohibited anymore from heading overseas for recreational purposes, no matter the destination. Even though they are advised against it, there is nothing to say they can’t go.

Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth advises holidaymakers they should stay in the UK this summer. Now is not the time to plan foreign travel. Although he agrees the guidance is causing confusion.

The travel guidelines categorise countries into a three tier traffic light system based on their risk. Each have their own specific measures that people must follow if they travel there, involving tests and quarantine. The countries have been classified into categories for a reason, which should not be ignored.

Popular holiday destinations such as France, Greece and Spain are currently on the amber list. Although an estimated 5 million UK holidaymakers have bookings to travel to amber countries this summer.

Currently, there are only 12 countries on the green list, but most of these are not allowing British visitors at the moment. However, expect more countries added to this list over the coming weeks.

If the EU opens up fully to vaccinated Brits without needing tests or quarantine measures, a flood of holiday booking abroad are predicted.

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