Wales to offer more Covid test choices for inbound travellers

Friday, 13 Sep, 2021 0

Health Minister Eluned Morgan said a wider choice of test providers will be available for people returning to Wales from overseas starting next week.

The expansion comes as new standards and spot checks are being introduced, which will help to address long-standing concerns and issues about the market for PCR tests for all travellers returning to the UK.

The Competitions and Market Authority (CMA) also made a series of recommendations to the UK Government to further improve the travel testing market.

All travellers returning to the UK from overseas must take PCR tests on their return home to help identify any new cases and prevent its onward spread.

Until now, these must be NHS tests for Welsh residents while people living in other parts of the UK have had a wider choice of test providers to choose from.

The expanded choice begins from 21 September.

New legislative standards for private test providers will come into force from this date.

Health Minister Eluned Morgan said: "Given the new regulations and the impact on standards for private tests, we will make changes to the rules to enable people travelling to Wales to book tests with private sector providers, if they wish. NHS tests will also continue to be available to book."

"I welcome the progress that has been made in addressing the significant concerns we have raised with UK Government, especially with the introduction of new regulatory standards on 21 September."

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.

Local spices spike the fragrant air of Morocco. Cradled by the dunes of the Sahara, the Kingdom has been inhabited...

The Florida Keys and Key West is a 126 mile long string of Islands connected to South Florida by the...

The superpower in bed banks for 30 years We are an award-winning and trusted accommodation wholesaler since 1991. We are...

In 2019, Buffalo Tours and Olympus Tours joined the Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) family and formed Discova. With the...

Atout France guides and supports the French regions with their development strategy and helps set up investment projects in order...

We’re the number one choice for travelers to the Greek Islands and Eastern Mediterranean – a fact we love to...

Chargebacks911 offers scalable solutions that are customized for any business of any size in any industry. With the flexibility to...

Global Hotel Alliance brings together a unique collection of independent hospitality brands for GHA DISCOVERY, a multi-brand loyalty programme. GHA...

Some describe it as a natural playground. Some say, it’s simply unique as it offers a great array of travel...

Discover Sarawak Revealing a side of Asia unlike anywhere else, Sarawak offers an alternative for those seeking humble authenticity far...

At Wilderness Safaris we believe in creating life-changing journeys and have been doing so for over 39 years. Our purpose...

NSW, Australia Welcome to New South Wales – a place to feel free, feel alive, feel new. As the official...

Since 1932, P&O Cruises has offered Aussies and Kiwis the opportunity to take to the seas and have the holiday...

Travel specialists founded the company in 1999 as AC Tours. Since then we have grown and expanded to incorporate four...

Babble is a leading technology business that is reimagining how we do work. Founded in 2001, the company works with...

Family-owned Olympic Holidays has been arranging holidays to Greece, the Greek islands and Cyprus for more than half century. The company is unrivalled...