It’s great news for travel to the US as today the White House announced that fully-vaccinated Brits will be able to visit from November 8.
President Biden said last month that a ban on British holidaymakers would be scrapped, but until now there had been no confirmed date.
Under the new rules, fully-vaccinated passengers will be allowed to enter the country although they’ll still need to show a negative Covid test certificate, issued within 72 hours of travel.
The move marks the end of a near 600 day bar on international leisure travel to the US and was welcomed by airlines and tour operators.
Research shows, the US border closure has resulted in the loss of more than 300,000 travel and tourism job in the last year.
It’s not just the airlines who have suffered as a result of the ban either, the US economy has taken a hefty hit.
According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), UK arrivals represent eight per cent of all inbound travel to the US which accounts for a staggering $40 million per day to the nation's economy.
“This finally allows consumers and businesses to book travel with confidence,” says Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic.
“The US has been our heartland for more than 37 years and we are simply not Virgin without the Atlantic.
“We’ve been steadily ramping up flying to destinations such as New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, and we can’t wait to fly our customers safely to their favourite US cities, on holiday or to reconnect with friends, loved ones and colleagues.”
Sean Doyle, British Airways Chairman called the lifting of restrictions a “pivotal moment for the entire travel industry” while ABTA, the travel association, says it “sends a strong message” for the opening of long-haul travel.
Julia Simpson, president of the WTTC, said: “It is great news that the U.S. will reopen its borders to fully-vaccinated travellers from the UK and EU.
“It has been a long time coming, but the travel & tourism businesses on both sides of the Atlantic will be breathing a sigh of relief.
“Visitors from the EU and the UK contributed more than $46 billion to the US economy in 2019, showing just how critical this move will be to the US recovery.”
With the borders set to open in less than four weeks time, there’s no time to waste in booking a getaway to The States.
British Airways is offering return flights to New York from £320pp as well as package trips.
Holidaymakers can book a seven-night room-only stay to the 3* Rosen Inn at Pointe in Orlando from just £531pp, including flights from Heathrow.
It’s a 15-minute drive from the roller coasters at Universal Orlando resorts, as well as shops, entertainment venues and restaurants.
The airline also has some cracking offers to Los Angeles such as five nights’ room-only at the 3* Holiday Inn Buena Park near Knott's from £519pp, including flights from Heathrow.
Those looking to book a romantic Valentine's getaway to the Big Apple can bag five nights’ room-only at the Hotel Edison in Times Square from £879pp, including flights from Heathrow, with Travel Counsellors.
Or how about Vegas? Southall Travel has a deal for a four-night room-only break to the 4* MGN Grand Hotel and Casino from £774pp, including flights from Glasgow on November 11.
Got cash to splash? Foodies can book four nights' room-only in the 5* Nobu Hotel Chicago from £976pp, including flights from Heathrow in January 2022 with BA.
Here guests can tuck into dishes of black cod miso, rock shrimp tempura and yellowtail sashimi with jalapeño peppers from the sushi restaurant or take a dip in the hotel's tranquility pool.
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