Business minister Kwasi Kwarteng has urged people not to travel to countries on the amber list, as the government lifted a blanket ban on overseas holidays.
The cabinet minister minister also insisted that people shouldn’t be “too exuberant” as Covid measures are relaxed more generally, with people allowed to meet with others inside in groups of six for the first time this year in England.
As part of the relaxation of restrictions, the biggest step out of country’s third national lockdown, ministers have eased rules governing travel with the traffic light system — rating countries green, amber and red — coming into force.
On Monday morning, British holidaymakers begun checking in for some of the first flights, including to the popular destination of Portugal, which gave the green light for inbound passengers just last week.
Speaking at the weekend, the health secretary, Matt Hancock, however, stressed that people should “certainly not” go on holiday to countries on the amber list, including Spain, Italy and France.
