Tag Archives: islands

Tourism minister Yaiza Castilla said “it is very frustrating” that the Canaries have been left off the travel list.

Ms Castilla said: “The Canary Islands are ready for British tourists, in fact we are eager for more to come.

“We are prepared, we are also vaccinating ourselves very fast, in order to have a guarantee of health reciprocity.

“To all the tour operators and travel agents in the UK, we look forward to welcoming your customers back to the Canary Islands very soon.”

UK tourists made up the biggest portion of visitors to the Canaries before the pandemic with five million visitors in 2019.

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This post originally posted here Daily Express

Celebrities

Love Island’s weirdest first day couples from season one to five

July 2, 2021 Newslanes Media Leave a comment

Will this year’s batch stay as they are or move on fast?

Author: [email protected] (Lucy Marshall)
This post originally appeared on Hull Live – Celebs & TV

Travel

Balearic warning: Islands could move to amber soon after mass COVID-19 outbreak

July 1, 2021 Newslanes Media Leave a comment

A spike in cases in the Balearic Islands could threaten its place on the green list. The islands, which are part of the “green watchlist” could become amber soon as a mass COVID-19 outbreak has been detected due to due hundreds of school trips in the past days.

The Balearic Islands, which include Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza, were added to the UK’s green list last week during the last traffic light system review.

Although it was considered a “safe area” for its low rate of COVID-19 cases, a spike has now been reported.

The islands have seen their average case rate double in 10 days to 300 per 100,000.

The small island of Formentera has the highest at 109 – the UK average case rate is 184.

This means the Spanish islands could move to the amber list soon, as the Balearics were added to the UK’s green “watchlist”.

Countries on the green “watchlist” can become amber without notice if there is a spike in cases in the region.

At the moment, British holidaymakers can enjoy quarantine-free travel to the islands with no need to quarantine on their return.

However, according to the traffic light system, they are “most at risk” of being downgraded to “amber” at short notice.

What do you think? Join the debate in the comments section here

DON’T MISS

The islands have begun vaccinating the 16-29 age group this week, which is believed to be driving the increase in infections.

The main cause, however, is believed to be thousands of students who have visited the islands on school trips this week, with over 20,000 returning home infected.

Dr Javier Arranz, a spokesperson for the Autonomous Committee for Infectious Diseases, said: “Young people who are not vaccinated are the ones who are becoming infected.

“We have to see how these numbers behave in the coming days as we take control of these outbreaks.”

The regional tourism chief for the Balearic Islands, Iago Negueruela, said that “this type of practices must not be tolerated.”

Although the islands have been on the green list for just a few days, the Government could move them to amber anytime.

Portugal, which was added to the green list in May, saw thousands of tourists rushing to get home after it was moved to the amber list with very short notice.

This comes after thousands of Britons arrived on the islands yesterday, on the official day the holiday spot was added to the UK’s “safe list”.

Author: ANDREA BLAZQUEZ
This post originally appeared on Daily Express

Travel

Spain: Foreign Office travel warning for islands but mainland resorts still banned

June 27, 2021 Newslanes Media Leave a comment

Holidays to Spain received a moderate boost on Thursday, when the Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps confirmed the Balearic Islands were to be added to the green list. This means, from Wednesday 30 June, Britons will be able to fly to and from the Balearics without quarantine.

The Spanish archipelago is home to tourist hotspots including Ibiza, Majorca and Menorca.

In line with the new traffic light update, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has amended its travel advice for Spain.

However, the bad news is, mainland Spain remains amber, with the FCDO continuing to advise against travel.

This means holidays to the likes of Benidorm, Marbella and Malaga remain on hold.

Francina Armengol, the region’s leader, made a similar call on Twitter, urging Spanish officials to set “strict and safe entry controls” for British tourists.

There are some entry requirements in place for UK arrivals, although currently, Britons are exempt from having to prove a negative COVID-19 test or proof of being fully vaccinated.

“From 24 May, entry restrictions and testing requirements for arrivals from the UK to Spain no longer apply,” states the FCDO.

There are some exceptions to this, however, including if a traveller has been in a “risk” country within the previous 14 days.

Despite this, the laws around wearing face masks in public places are gradually being relaxed.

“From June 26, it will no longer be mandatory to wear a face mask outdoors where social distancing of 1.5 metres is observed,” explains the FCDO.

However, face mask use remains mandatory for anyone over the age of 6 years in the following circumstances:

In any enclosed space open to the public.

In any indoor space where people who are not from the same household mix

In any outdoor space where it is not possible to observe social distancing of 1.5m.

On all forms of public transport including planes, trains, trams, buses and metro, as well as all transport stations, platforms and airports.

Specific mask rules vary between regions, and penalties may be imposed for those who do not comply.

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This post originally appeared on Daily Express :: Travel Feed

Travel

Malta and Balearic Islands 'to be added to green list' today: Boost for Brit holidaymakers

June 24, 2021 Newslanes Media Leave a comment

Good news for British holidaymakers is expected this week as more countries could be added to England’s travel green list. It is likely that Malta and the Balearic Islands will be put on the list.

A handful of African countries are expected to be put on the red list.

Travel is currently banned from these nations for all except British residents and nationals.

Malta was tipped to be added to the green list three weeks ago, during the Government’s last travel traffic system announcement.

However, its status on the amber list remained unchanged.

However, Britons returning from amber countries must quarantine for 10 days at home, and for 10 days in a hotel if coming from red countries.

This is regardless of travellers’ vaccination status, but this could change for double jabbed holidaymakers returning from amber nations in August.

Data analysed by the PC Agency from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and Our World in Data suggests that, according to the UK’s own criteria, multiple countries should be added to the green list today.

These include the US, Croatia, Canada, Italy, Germany, the Balearic Islands, Mexico, Jamaica, Finland, Poland, Morocco, Malta, Barbados, and Grenada.

The potential updates to the travel traffic light lists will be announced this afternoon.

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This post originally appeared on Daily Express :: Travel Feed

Canada

They won't give up! Desperate Argentina to beg UN to intervene in Falkland Islands row

June 22, 2021 Newslanes Media Leave a comment

The UK has always stood firm against the UN’s resolutions that propose a dialogue between the two countries. Despite this Argentine officials Felipe Solá and Daniel Filmus will be present their arguments this Thursday in New York. The officials will attempt to obtain support from the 29 members of the UN’s “Decolonization Committee”.

Daniel Filmus, Argentine Foreign Ministry official for the Secretary of the Malvinas, Antarctica and South Atlantic, told the news site Infobae: “We hope that many countries will intervene in the session expressing their support for our position.

“Representatives of international organisations such as CELAC, Mercosur, and the Group of 77 and others will speak.”

The Board of Directors of the United Nations Special Committee for Decolonization unanimously ratified its “support for the resumption of negotiations between Argentina and the United Kingdom to find a peaceful solution to the controversy of sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands.”

The resolution was released on February 11 of this year but ignored by the UK.

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“This is following the resumption of negotiations with the United Kingdom as a means to end the dispute.”

Last Monday, June 14, Mr Filmus responded to the self-determination question and said: “As the United Kingdom knows, self-determination only applies in the cases of peoples under colonial rule, but the current population of the Malvinas Islands has been implanted by the British government.”

Mr Filmus continued with a tweet and said: “The UN resolution 2065 and subsequent ones are clear in this regard.

“The only way to resolve the sovereignty dispute over the Malvinas and put an end to colonialism is to resume bilateral negotiations between Argentina and the United Kingdom.”

Various other multi-lateral forums also call for Argentina and the UK to hold talks over the future sovereignty of the islands.

These groups include, the Organisation of American States, OAS, Mercosur, the Group of 77 plus China, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Celac, and the Ibero-American Summits.

Additional reporting by Maria Ortega.

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This post originally appeared on Daily Express :: World Feed

Travel

Canary Islands prices plunge with holidays reaching record lows – where to stay for £180

June 18, 2021 Newslanes Media Leave a comment

Due to the current travel restrictions in the UK, the price of holidays and flights have dropped dramatically. Holidays in Gran Canaria, in Spain, have reported a fall of 25 percent and Tenerife is now 23 percent cheaper than last year.

After Portugal was moved back to the amber list, holiday prices in the country dropped by 64 percent.

At the moment, holidaymakers can go to Portugal for as little as £180 per person, according to the comparison website TravelSupermarket.

Travellers will spend the price difference in PCR test both to go there and to come back, as at least three Covid-19 tests are required when coming back from an amber list country.

Currently, travel agencies in the UK are also selling holidays to the Canary Islands for only £180.

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Gran Canaria is now 25 percent cheaper than last year and Tenerife 23 pecent. In Lanzarote prices have dropped 15 percent and in the small islands of Fuerteventura 12 percent.

But where to go in the Canary Islands?

Tenerife

Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands.

The island will offer an incredibly varied landscape, beautiful beaches and El Teide, the highest mountain in Spain.

Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura is where travellers will find the most beautiful beaches.

Get lost in the 150 kilometers of coastline around the island, which is also a UNESCO biosphere reserve due to the unique combination of beaches and volcanic landscape.

Lanzarote

The island was also declared a UNESCO biosphere reserve. Due to its mild climate, excellent wine is grown in the barren volcanic landscape.

Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria has the perfect mix of sandy beaches and volcanic landscape.

In addition to the volcanic craters and reservoirs, Gran Canaria also has a very green side with amazing inland forests.

But what are Europe’s cheapest holiday destinations right now?

Holidaymakers can book flights and a four star hotel in Mallorca for a little as £187 per person.

A holiday in Crete, staying in a four star hotel for five nights would be only £219 – including a direct flight from London.

The Amalfi coast in Italy is now accessible to everyone. Flights and a four star hotel in June would cost £256 only.

Travellers can also stay seven nights in a three star hotel in Corfu, for only £212 – with direct flights from London included.

Are you travelling abroad this summer? Join the debate in the comments section here

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This post originally appeared on Daily Express :: Travel Feed

Travel

Spain: Testing rules tighten for visits to the Canary and Balearic Islands – FCDO advice

June 10, 2021 Newslanes Media Leave a comment

Some travel restrictions are in place for international transit through Spanish airports by passengers on flights departing from the UK.

The FCDO explains: “If you are transiting Spain by air from the UK you are not subject to testing requirements, however, you are required to complete and sign an online Health Control Form no more than 48 hours prior to travel declaring any known history of exposure to COVID-19 and giving contact details.”

Spain’s archipelagos were recent left devastated after they did not make it onto the green list at the most recent review.

Both the Canary and Balearic Islands had been predicted by experts as potentials for quarantine travel due to their Covid figures, however the Uk Government decided to make no new additions to the list.

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This post originally appeared on Daily Express :: Travel Feed

Travel

TUI axes more June holidays including Canary Islands, Greece and Malta

June 10, 2021 Newslanes Media Leave a comment

TUI has assured customers it will not take them to destinations if the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises against non-essential travel.

The travel provider is “reviewing” its current flight and holiday programme, and sharing information to travellers whose plans may have been cancelled.

In a recent update, holidays including flight-only and accommodation-only bookings to an array of destinations have now been cancelled.

Cancelled holidays include those due to depart on or before June 20, 2021, to Aruba, the Balearic Islands (Majorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera), Croatia with the exception of Kvarner Bay, Cyprus, Greece (Halkidiki, Kefalonia, Preveza, Samos, Santorini, Skiathos, Thassos, and Chania in Crete), Jamaica, Italy, mainland Spain, La Palma in the Canary Islands and Malta.

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This post originally appeared on Daily Express :: Travel Feed

Tenerife

Fuerteventura

Lanzarote

Gran Canaria

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