MADRID – Earlier today, there were confident reports regarding the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson´s expected proposals for a traffic light system and international travel from May 17.

However, in his speech, he failed to deliver any promises regarding vaccine passports or indeed when international travel could resume. He did however, say “we still seem set for May 17 but we will constantly keep things under review”.

Boris Johnson has said he cannot guarantee that overseas holidays will open up from 17 May. He told the press conference that “we are not there yet”.

Don´t book foreign holidays yet

The government says it hopes people will be able to travel to and from the UK to take a summer holiday this year, “but it is still too soon to know what is possible”. Don’t book foreign holidays ‘until the picture is clearer’ says government.

May 17

With just six weeks remaining before the hoped-for resumption on May 17 for foreign travel, this has come as a shock.

But the government has confirmed that a “traffic light” system will be used to indicate risk and consequent arrival protocols.

Non-essential international travel

The government has said it “will confirm in advance whether non-essential international travel can resume on 17 May, or whether we will need to wait longer before lifting the outbound travel restriction”.

However, even with six weeks’ warning, the travel industry would struggle. Airlines and holiday companies normally plan capacity months ahead, not days and weeks.

This is major blow to the tourist sector in Spain.