Travel: Industry fears Spain and Greece next on ‘amber-plus’ list

Holiday favourites could follow France’s fate

SPAIN could be the next big holiday destination to be placed on the ‘amber-plus’ list, say travel industry experts – meaning double-jabbed UK visitors have to quarantine on their return.

From today people who are fully vaccinated with an NHS certificate do not have to self-isolate on their return from ‘amber’ countries. 

However, on Friday the UK government controversially said this did not apply to France because of rising infections and travellers returning from across the channel still faced up to 10 days in quarantine.

And the travel industry now fears Spain, along with Greece and others, could follow France into a category unofficially called the ‘amber-plus’ list – and have the continued coronavirus restriction.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, 18 million British holidaymakers a year headed for Spain. The country is still reeling from the decision to drop the Balearic Islands from a ‘green’ destination to ‘amber’ – which led to chaos as holidaymakers attempted to get home before the official change early on Monday morning.

Paul Charles, of travel consultancy The PC Agency, said: “It is now known as the ‘amber plus list’ whether they like it or not.

“France is one of the big three countries we visit each year and I think the concern is the Government will be looking at Spain and Greece – and potentially add those to the amber plus category.”

France became an exception to the rules over concern of the spread of the South African – or Beta – variant of Covid but its politicians maintain data has been misinterpreted and the mutation is “not present at all” on the mainland but has affected overseas territories.