In The United Kingdom, The Covid Travel Restrictions Have Been Lifted
All remaining Covid travel restrictions for passengers entering the UK have now been abolished.
Unvaccinated passengers will no longer be required to take tests as of 04:00 GMT (the rule had already been repealed for the vaccinated), and passenger locator forms will be phased out.
It comes almost exactly two years after the UK implemented the first Covid lockout measures.
Lifting the rules, according to travel executives, was the "ultimate game-changer."
"Everything we've worked for - every jab, every test, and the sacrifices made by the entire country means that, finally, nearly two years later, we may all travel without bureaucratic constraints," Aviation Minister Robert Courts said.
The move was scheduled to coincide with the Easter holidays, according to the government, but contingency measures have been made up to deal with any future Covid variants.
Bookings have increased in recent months, according to Derek Jones, CEO of Kuoni, a tourism company.
"The elimination of all travel limitations is the game-changer - people may now go on vacation or visit relatives and friends overseas without the burden of testing before returning home," he said.
"Finally, the hated and ineffectual passenger locating forms, which were always a pain to fill out, are no longer in use. Travel has been in a state of flux for the past two years, but it is now resuming."The move was scheduled to coincide with the Easter holidays, according to the government, but contingency measures have been made up to deal with any future Covid variants.
Travelers from the United Kingdom should still examine the rules of the countries they are visiting, as many still have limitations and testing requirements.
In March 2020, people were first warned to avoid any non-essential overseas travel.
Passenger locator forms for arrivals were adopted later that year, along with "travel corridors," which required passengers arriving from countries outside the corridors to self-isolate for up to 14 days at home.
Pre-departure and post-arrival tests, hotel quarantine for some arrivals, and a "traffic light" system of red, amber, and green countries are among the other restrictions.
