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Travel Covid testing to continue until new year
The UK’s testing regime for fully-jabbed travellers will continue until at least the new year, the government says.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps ruled out any changes before 2022, as testing is a vital safety layer to ‘maintain s border surveillance’.
Speaking virtually at the Airport Operators Association’s annual conference, Shapps said it will be reviewed next year.
"The government will continue to maintain surveillance at the border and genomic sequencing, and we will review the policy again."
"It’s been an incredibly tough and frustrating year for airports but, in fact, 2021 has seen considerable progress. Recent relaxations of travel restrictions are a clear sign that we are well on the way to recovery. This is a significant step in normalising international travel and giving people the confidence to book trips."
Aviation businesses as well as travel industry trade groups have lobbied hard for an end to mandatory tests, even though the government has relaxed protocols to soon allow cheaper lateral flow kits for day 2 tests.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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Travel Covid testing to continue until new year – Support
The UK’s testing regime for fully-jabbed travellers will continue until at least the new year, the government says.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps ruled out any changes before 2022, as testing is a vital safety layer to ‘maintain s border surveillance’.
Speaking virtually at the Airport Operators Association’s annual conference, Shapps said it will be reviewed next year.
"The government will continue to maintain surveillance at the border and genomic sequencing, and we will review the policy again."
"It’s been an incredibly tough and frustrating year for airports but, in fact, 2021 has seen considerable progress. Recent relaxations of travel restrictions are a clear sign that we are well on the way to recovery. This is a significant step in normalising international travel and giving people the confidence to book trips."
Aviation businesses as well as travel industry trade groups have lobbied hard for an end to mandatory tests, even though the government has relaxed protocols to soon allow cheaper lateral flow kits for day 2 tests.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Walt Leger on New Orleans’ Resilience and Major Events Ahead
Cindy Mackin Shares Estes Park’s Winter Thrills
Mark Jaronski of Explore Georgia on FIFA World Cup 2026
Connecting Small Businesses to Global Tourism Markets: Nate Huff of Tourism Exchange
North Carolina’s Resilience: Wit Tuttell on Recovery and Tourism
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
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Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
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