Travel news latest: Tour operators to run holidays to amber list countries

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Tour operators will take British holidaymakers to amber list countries against Government advice, Telegraph Travel can reveal.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has warned travellers not to visit destinations on the amber list “for leisure purposes” when it introduces its traffic light system next week. 

But travel companies, including Tui, easyJet holidays and British Airways Holidays, are planning to run trips to amber countries including Malta, Antigua and the Spanish Canary Islands, using the guidance of the Foreign Office (FCDO), which is separate from the DfT’s, as permission to do so. Travellers returning to the UK from amber countries must quarantine for up to 10 days at home. 

Bharat Gadhoke, head of commercial at Aito, the Association of Independent Tour Operators, said the Government has failed in providing clarity to holidaymakers. “AITO questions the wisdom of having an amber traffic light at all. It’s neither one thing or the other. Basically all main holiday countries are amber at present,” he said. 

A spokesperson for easyJet holidays said it recognised the discrepancy but would follow the advice of the FCDO. A spokesperson for Tui said: “We want to offer our customers flexibility and choice this summer, so where borders are open and FCDO advice allows travel, we will operate to those destinations.”

British Airways Holidays said: “Customers who are unable to travel, or choose not to, can continue to change their holiday without a change fee, or request a voucher for future use.” ​ 

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