The UK Government announced that on the 6th of July blanket restrictions on travel would be relaxed so that Brits could return from holiday without quarantining.

‘Air Bridges’ or ‘Travel Corridors’ would be established with certain European countries allowing for a quarantine waiver.

The result is that there has been an instant demand for holiday packages from travel agents and ticket reservations for flights made directly with airline companies. Top destinations have been Spain and Greece.

The definitive list of which countries will be included won’t be made known until the 6th of July but it is expected to include: Spain, France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, Turkey, Germany and Norway. Portugal and Sweden, however, have enough problems and are not reopening their borders.

To cope with the relaxing of quarantine requirements from returning from abroad, the UK Government has introduced what they call the ‘Traffic Light’ system: Countries will be classified as Green, Amber and Red, depending on how affected they are by Covid-19. It also announced that it wouldn’t hesitate to shut the whole scheme down if things turned nasty.

Of course, England makes the decisions and expects Wales and Scotland to obey without question but it no longer works like that since Brexit. Both the Scottish and Welsh governments say such decisions are theirs to make; not London’s. Scottish Ministers were not impressed that they were not consulted before the British Government announced this move and the Welsh Parliament isn’t prepared to kick start its tourist industry until the 13th of July.

The whole system seems a bit of a botch job because there is nothing to stop a British tourist flying into Spain, popping over the border into Portugal and then returning the same way, without having to undergo quarantine.

Editorial Comment: seeing that footage of Brighton Beach, jammed packed with holidaymakers and with not one mask between them does not bode well for Spain. Spain needs British tourists, undoubtedly, but if Brighton Beach is anything to go on, can Spain afford to have an influx of people who don’t seem to give a damn about health restrictions and precautions?

(News: Spain)