People living in England are rushing to book foreign holidays on Friday after the UK announced changes to Covid-fighting travel restrictions to and from the country.
Some travel companies reported bookings had risen by more than 200 per cent, especially for the period including the October half-term school break.
Airline stocks rose last week in anticipation of an easing of restrictions.
Ryanair and the owner of British Airways, IAG SA, both rose about 9 per cent, and EasyJet was up 11 per cent.
A “red list” of countries from which quarantine on return is mandatory has been retained, but the “amber list” has been scrapped.
Some conditions remain even for countries on the green list.
People who are fully immunised with a Covid-19 vaccine recognised by the UK – those of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Janssen – will no longer need to take a pre-departure test before arriving in, or returning to, England from non-red list destinations.
From the end of October, the PCR test on day two will be replaced by a cheaper lateral flow test.
The changes were announced on Friday.
Eight countries will move from the red list to the green one on September 22. They are Turkey, the Maldives, Egypt, Oman, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Kenya and Sri Lanka.
Alan French, chief executive of travel agency Thomas Cook, said half-term bookings were up 200 per cent compared with those in August.
“I would expect this weekend to be the biggest of the year so far as people take advantage of the great deals on offer, the new easier rules on testing and the simplified system for international travel,” he said.
Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said bookings had soared “by more than 250 per cent” and that Turkey was “exceptionally popular”.
“Thanks to the certainty that [the] announcement has given customers, destinations right across the board are selling well, whether it’s for late-summer sun, winter or next summer. As you might expect, half-term dates have also seen a surge in bookings for families,” he said.
Andrew Flintham, managing director of holiday company TUI UK, said there had been “an uptick in bookings for Turkey in October” and expected a boost in customer confidence with the new rules.
Flight-booking website Skyscanner said it had a 133 per cent spike in traffic in the 30 minutes after the announcement by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.
Chris Parker, a director at ferry company DFDS, said: “We’ve seen an immediate spike in visits to the website and uptick in bookings for October onwards.”
The devolved nations of the UK set their own entry rules.
The Scottish government said it would drop the traffic light system but would not follow England in removing the pre-departure test requirement for the fully vaccinated returning from non-red list countries. It said it would not change to using lateral flow tests on day two.
The Welsh government said it would consider the UK government’s proposed changes.
Both administrations said they would mirror the changes to the red list destinations.
In Northern Ireland, the traffic light system will change on October 4, with a single “red list” of high-risk destinations and a “simplified process” for travellers arriving from anywhere else in the world.
MATCH INFO
Delhi Daredevils 174-4 (20 ovs)
Mumbai Indians 163 (19.3 ovs)
Delhi won the match by 11 runs
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
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The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
What is the definition of an SME?
SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.
A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors.
How tumultuous protests grew
- A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
- Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved
- Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
- At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
- Named after the high visibility jackets that drivers must keep in cars
- Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
- An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
England 19 (Try: Tuilagi; Cons: Farrell; Pens: Ford (4)
New Zealand 7 (Try: Savea; Con: Mo'unga)
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A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
Match info
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Liverpool v Porto, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE)
Matches can be watched on BeIN Sports
