AR
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The UK government has eased COVID-19 restrictions on fully-vaccinated travellers with the aim of ensuring rapid recovery from pandemic fallout. According to data figures from digital travel agency Skyscanner, bookings for economy return travel from the UK during summertime increased by 394 percent in January 2022 compared with the previous month.
Furthermore, bookings from the UK to Dubai in January soared by 49 percent compared to the same month in 2020.
"The travel rules unwinding has also been reflected in the numbers of people coming to the UK for a summer holiday. Britain was the most popular summer booking in January for travellers from the UAE," Skyscanner said in its report.
Besides looming concerns over new COVID-19 variants, UK's new travel rules are expected to facilitate a continuous renaissance of the travel and tourism industry.
What are the new UK travel restrictions?
Fully vaccinated travellers
As per the updated rules, fully vaccinated passengers are not required to take any COVID-19 test before or after arrival in the UK. Earlier, the authorities had removed quarantine protocols for fully-vaccinated passengers. The only requirement for passengers is to fill out a passenger locator form before travelling to the country.
Fully-vaccinated travellers include those showing proof of inoculation with an approved COVID-19 vaccine. It is important that the final vaccine dose must have been taken no later than 14 days before arrival in the UK.
Non fully vaccinated travellers
For those passengers who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19, UK authorities have issued updated rules.
· They are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result, conducted within two days before travel to the UK.
· In addition, they are required to book and pay for a COVID-19 PCR test that will be conducted upon their arrival in the country.
· The third requirement is the passenger locator form.
Meanwhile, unvaccinated travellers are not required to quarantine unless their PCR Test result is positive.
Why are UK travel rules changing?
The relaxation in travel protocols has come in line with the UK government's determination to transition from a pandemic to an endemic mindset. In this regard, England is expected to remove all domestic COVID-19 rules by the end of February, a month before the previous plan of the government.
“It is my intention to return on the first day after the half-term recess to present our strategy for living with COVID-19. Provided the current encouraging trends in the data continue, it is my expectation that we will be able to end the last domestic restrictions, including the legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive, a full month early," UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson told parliament.
SOURCE: The National News