BRITISH tourists have begun holidaying across Europe's busiest location – but those travelling back from Spain are now required to quarantine on their return due to coronavirus.
The air bridge, or "travel corridor", scheme is an agreement between two countries to allow quarantine-free travel – but after a spike in COVID-19 cases in mainland Spain, people are required to self-isolate for 14-days on arrival in the UK.
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The government recently begun opening air bridges from July 4 with around 80 destinations worldwide for Brits to chose from without being required to quarantine on return.
The countries include popular holiday destinations including France, Italy, Cyrpus, Germany, The Netherlands and Greece.
But despite five new destinations – Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia and St Vincent and the Grenadines – being added to the list on Saturday (25 July, 2020), Spain has now been removed from the list.
The news comes ahead of the current quarantine policy being reviewed on June 29.
Here are the countries which began welcoming back British holidaymakers, as well as their current active Covid-19 rates.
Spain – 68,881 active cases
Spain was one of the first countries to welcome Brits back, with tourists visiting the country once again on the weekend of June 20/21.
But from midnight on Sunday 26 July, tourists have been advised NOT to travel to mainland Spain unless it is "essential", the Foreign Office has warned.
The country was removed from the government's 'safe list' – with holidaymakers forced to quarantine for two weeks on returning home.
Spain has the closest active coronavirus rates to the UK as far as we know.
The advice against travel only applies to mainland Spain, with holiday hotpots such as Majorca and Ibiza left off the 'no go' list – though travellers returning from the islands WILL still have to quarantine.
The website says: "From 26 July, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) advises against all non-essential travel to mainland Spain based on the current assessment of Covid-19 risks.
"Only the Canary Islands (Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa) and Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera) are exempt from the FCO advice against all non-essential international travel.
"This advice is based on evidence of increases in cases of Covid-19 in several regions, but particularly in Aragon, Navarra and Catalonia (which include the cities of Zaragoza, Pamplona and Barcelona).
"The FCO is not advising those already travelling in Spain to leave at this time."
Brits are urged to contact their tour operator or airline for information regarding their return journey.
France – 69,521 active cases
Brits can travel to France, with the country lifting the ban since June 15, although tourists will need to quarantine for 14 days upon entering.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French president Emmanuel Macron are understood to have discussed travel during a meeting on June 18.
Speaking at the Downing Street press conference on June 16, Mr Johnson said: "Obviously I will be talking to Emmanuel Macron about all sorts of ways in which we can bring our countries together, making sure that eventually we will be able to travel freely to and from each other's countries."
The government hopes to come to an agreement to allow Brits to freely travel across the English Channel again soon.
Turkey – 11,100 active cases
Turkey restarted flights from the UK in June, with Brits able to return to the popular tourist resorts.
New rules have seen face masks enforced in a number of regions across Turkey, or tourists face £100 fines.
Temperature and health tests will also be conducted upon entry, with tourists quarantined if testing positive.
Italy – 12,442 active cases
Italy was initially one of the hardest-hit countries by coronavirus, but have reduced their lockdown measures and welcomed Brits back since June 3.
The country has no quarantine measures in place, but Brits will quarantine when returning to the UK.
"We hope that at the end of June quarantine will be abolished", a source told the Telegraph.
Portugal – 13,229 active cases
Portugal is keen to offer an air bridge with the UK, despite recently experiencing a spike in cases in Lisbon.
However, Downing Street has decided to keep Portugal off the list of air corridors for the meantime.
The Algarve also hopes to be an option for Brits this year.
João Fernandes, President of Algarve Tourism added: "The Algarve is one of the least affected regions in Portugal, and so we are now in a position to carefully plan a gradual reopening of its economic and social activity”.
More than a third of the Algarve region's hotels are already open, with plans to have 75 per cent up and running by June and 100 per cent by July.
Dubai/UAE – 6,387 active cases
British tourists will be able to visit Dubai this summer as the United Arab Emirates prepares to welcome foreign visitors again from July 7.
Those arriving in the country will be required to prove, through certificates, that they have recently tested negative for Covid-19.
The alternative is that they could undergo a coronavirus test on arrival at the airport, the Dubai government media office said in a statement on Sunday.
International health insurance, coronavirus tests and a completed health declaration forms are mandatory for tourists visiting Dubai.
The UAE halted all incoming flights on March 24, with thousands left stranded after the date was moved 48 hours earlier at short notice.
Hotels are already slashing prices by 60 per cent to encourage tourists to return, but no plans have been put in place for the arrival of international visitors as of yet.
Germany – 6,530 active cases
Germany has welcomed tourists, including Brits, back to the country, since June 15.
However, on June 22 it was revealed the country saw its coronavirus R rate triple in just two days to reach 2.88 – sparking fears of a second wave.
The reproduction number, or “R”, is the average number of people each person with the virus infects – if it remains below 1, then the outbreak in a country is shrinking, but it’s growing if it rises above it.
This may see it being moved to a "high risk" country for the UK when considering air bridges.
Greece – 2,591 active cases
Greece is open to tourists, although quarantines between seven to 14 days are enforced depending on coronavirus test results upon entering.
EasyJet has started reselling flights from London Gatwick to Athens and TUI will fly there from July 11.
The country has managed to keep coronavirus cases relatively low, making it a popular choice for an air bridge with the UK.
Austria – 1,551 actives cases
Austria is also being considered for an air bridge with the UK.
However, Brits must have a medical certificate proving they don't have coronavirus no older than four days, or face a 14-day quarantine.
Vienna Airport sells the tests for €190.
Yet cases remain low in Austria, and could be considered for the quarantine-free travel.
Croatia – 881 active cases
The lowest number of active cases, Croatia is a low-risk country to be linked with the UK.
Brits have been able to visit Croatia quarantine-free since June 16, with arrivals from Britain asked to fill out a form with details including whether you have ever had coronavirus or if you have been in contact with someone who has recovered from Covid-19 in the previous 14 days.
Travellers also have to provide proof of an accommodation booking or that they own a residence when crossing the border.
Masks are also not compulsory across Croatia.
While flights to Croatia are still limited, Wizz Air has restarted its Luton to Split route three times a week, with fares from £21.99.
Brits are instead looking to the future, and are booking holidays in 2021 instead due to uncertainty surrounding travel this year.
Thankfully, tour operators are already putting flights and package holidays on sale, with easyJet, On The Beach and Love Holidays selling trips.
Here are some of the best travel deals if heading to Spain, Greece or Florida in 2021
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