No quarantine for fully vaccinated French travelling to England

Gulf Today Report

Britain will scrap quarantine for fully-vaccinated travellers returning to England and Scotland from France. This decision to row back on French coronavirus quarantine rules could provide a boost to France's tourism industry, said French junior tourism minister Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne.

"The British are big fans of the Dordogne-et-Lot region," Lemoyne told France Inter radio on Thursday, as he welcomed the move.

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Moreover, Britain said fully-vaccinated travellers returning to England from France will no longer have to quarantine, scrapping an extra rule imposed on its closest neighbour last month, as it also opened up to seven more countries.

Britain has double vaccinated a higher proportion of its population against COVID-19 than most other countries, but a maze of rules has prevented travel to many countries, devasting the travel industry.

British Airways welcomed the easing of the rules but said the government had to go further.

Rowing back on a rule that had infuriated French politicians and thrown millions of holidays into confusion.

Britain's transport minister, Grant Shapps, said the easing of the rules would ease pressure on the struggling travel industry and give sun seekers a chance to meet up with friends and family.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's travel regulations have angered some of Britain's European allies, frustrated millions of sun-seeking Britons and brought dire warnings from airports, airlines and tour companies.

British Airways welcomed the easing of the rules but said the government had to go further.

"We welcome more low-risk countries being added to the green list but urge the government to go further, end uncertainty and allow people to benefit from our world-leading vaccination programme," said Sean Doyle, the airline's chairman and CEO.

"The UK's economic recovery is reliant on a thriving travel sector and right now we're lagging behind Europe, with our more stringent testing requirements and a red list significantly broader than our European peers."