Travel news latest: 'Now is not the time to book a summer holiday' says industry boss

Greece has reopened to vaccinated tourists today, as the popular holiday destination attempts to gain a place on the Government’s green list.

There is, however, growing concern that holidays to already green-listed Portugal will not be able to resume from Monday, when the ban on international leisure travel is lifted, as the country’s has extended its “state of calamity.”

In Greece beaches and museums have reopened, while its Aegean islands have begun to prepare for the return of visitors. The first tourist flights will arrive at the nation’s 14 regional airports today and travel between Greek regions is resuming as the government says “we are putting lockdown behind us”.

This week Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharris told Telegraph Travel that the country has pledged to fully vaccinate the population of its 6,000 islands by the end of June, in a further bid to kickstart tourism.

In Portugal, the key holiday destination on the UK’s green list, a continued state of emergency will remain in place until at least May 30, meaning Britons will not be allowed to enter. According to the BBC, Portuguese Cabinet office minister Mariana Vieira da Silva said in a briefing on Thursday she had “no information to give yet” when asked if restrictions on travel from the UK would soon be lifted.

The news adds further uncertainty to the future of overseas holidays for Britons, as the UK Government remains in discussions with the European Commission about how to safely reopen travel on the Continent. Tour operators may be forced to cancel holidays unless the roadmap to easing restrictions becomes more clear.

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10:08AM

In numbers: the pandemic in Greece

As Greece reopens to tourists, let’s take a look at how the pandemic is progressing there.

The current seven-day case rate is 156 per 100,000.

And 2.5million people have had their first vaccination.

9:58AM

Partying off the menu in the Balearic Islands

Holidaymakers hoping to travel to Ibiza and the other Balearic Islands this summer can expect to have a few earlier nights than usual, as the head of government Francina Armengol plans to significantly reduce partying.

“Only with a higher vaccination rate can we reopen the nightlife,” Armengol told German media. Instead “responsible tourism” is now a priority.

“Corona has once again shown us the need for responsible and respectful tourism,” said Armengol.

“The nightlife will follow later, probably not this summer.”

9:47AM

New Zealand may welcome vaccinated travellers

The measure would be a potential reversal of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s stance that borders would remain largely closed until New Zealand’s population was vaccinated.

New Zealand’s strict border controls have kept the country largely Covid free and it has seen a tiny fraction of the cases and deaths seen for example in Europe and the Americas.

But the restrictions have also isolated the country and meant it has been out of bounds to most international visitors for more than a year.

The country is also now less vaccinated than much of Europe, with only around 6 per cent of people having had one or more jabs.

Ms Ardern said: “The first question we are asking, is: do we need to have completed our vaccine rollout in order to open up our borders beyond the bubble arrangements we already have? The answer is possibly.”

9:40AM

Watch: ‘We don’t know’ if British tourists can visit

9:34AM

Portugal holidays in jeopardy

According to the BBC, Portuguese Cabinet office minister Mariana Vieira da Silva said in a briefing on Thursday she had “no information to give yet” when asked if restrictions on travel from the UK would soon be lifted.

“Work is going on and as soon as there is a decision it will be announced, but no decision was taken in this cabinet meeting,” she said.

Follow The Telegraph’s coroanvirus live blog for all the latest news.

9:25AM

Wales residents urged to hold off foreign holidays

Wales will move to alert level two on Monday, prompting the reopening of indoor hospitality, holiday accommodation and entertainment venues, however residents are still being advised to only travel abroad for “essential” reasons for at least three more weeks.

First Minister Mark Drakeford is expected to confirm today that international travel can resume from Monday, in line with plans in England and also using a traffic light system, but there will be “extra safeguards” in place and Welsh ministers are urging for caution.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Mr Drakeford admitted the travel advice was not a rule because it would be “unenforceable”, but urged caution against “importing” coronavirus from other parts of the world.

“We know most people who travel from Wales will be doing it from Bristol, Manchester, London, so once those airports are open and travel across the UK is allowed, then people from Wales will be able to travel,” he said.

Instead of opting for a foreign break the First Minister suggests there are “fantastic opportunities” to take a holiday in Wales instead.

9:21AM

The traffic light system

Need a reminder of which countries are on the ‘green list’? Here’s the full list.

9:15AM

‘Britons are going to be beaten to the sun loungers’ as travel chaos continues

British holidaymakers could be “beaten to the sun loungers” as ongoing restrictions mean very few destinations will open once international travellers from Monday.

Portugal’s decision to extend its ‘state of calamity’ has cast fresh doubt over whether holidays to the Mediterranean country will be able to resume next week.

Johan Lundgren, chief executive of easyJet, told The Daily Mail that tougher rules meant “not only are Brits going to be beaten to the sun loungers by the Germans, Dutch and Swiss but this will leave them picking up a bigger bill for their holiday, coupled with an onerous, expensive and unnecessary testing regime for low-risk countries.

“We don’t want Britons to be left behind in the race to the sun when the huge success of our vaccination programme does mean travel can safely reopen.”

9:13AM