Spain, France, Portugal and Portugal have tightened their border regulations for winter escapes.
New restrictions are in place to counter the Omicron variant. Non-vaccinated British travelers over 12 years old will be barred from Spain.
From tomorrow, UK arrivals in France must provide proof of a negative Covid test – even if they are fully jabbed. Every holidaymaker must pass a pre-travel test for PCR and lateral flow in Portugal.
British visitors must be quarantined in Switzerland for at least 10 days.
Family members looking to escape the cold winter months will be faced with additional restrictions from France, Spain and Portugal as they tighten their borders. Fuengirola in Southern Spain
Paul Charles, CEO of travel consultancy The PC Agency, warned that the travel sector must not be used as a ‘punchbag’ by governments.
‘Whenever we see tightening of measures they are extra barriers which put off people from booking,’ he said.
‘Whether it is talk of quarantine or extra testing, these measures act as a barrier to people’s confidence.’
He said restrictions have ‘only been put in place because of the uncertainty over the variant itself’, adding: ‘That’s why we need a thorough conclusion urgently on this variant.’
England does not require pre-departure testing, however all arriving guests must undergo a PCR test at least two days before departure. Once the result is negative, they will be quarantined in their home for up to a week.
A leaked paper from the Government’s SAGE advisors this week said pre-departure tests would be ‘valuable’.
Spain now bans non-vaccinated British travelers over 12 years old
But Downing Street said yesterday there are ‘no plans’ to introduce them. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘We think Day Two tests are the right way.
‘It’s not a restriction we’re planning to introduce based on what we currently know.’
Business minister George Freeman said: ‘Omicron is live work every day, looking at the data.’
He added that governments are learning how to get the ‘balance right’ between health and the economy.