LONDON: Portugal will be removed from England’s so-called green travel list allowing quarantine-free travel between the two countries, the UK government said on Thursday, in a move slammed by Britain’s tourism sector.

The move could prove highly disruptive to thousands of British holidaymakers, after Portugal was the only European nation placed on the green list when it was first unveiled last month.

A popular summer destination for Britons, from Tuesday at 4am Portugal will be on the amber list, which requires travellers to quarantine at home for 10 days on their return and take several Covid-19 tests.

It joins other European Union countries on the list, with no nations added to the green section.

The government advises against travel to amber-listed countries unless for a limited number of exceptional reasons, which does not include holidays.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2021