LONDON — Canada will be added to the UK’s green list effective Monday, Aug. 30.
With the updated policy Canadians will be able to enter the UK without a mandatory quarantine, regardless of whether or not they are fully vaccinated.
Canadian travellers will still need to take a pre-departure test and a COVID-19 test on or before day 2 of arrival. Quarantine is only necessary if the test is positive. Travellers can find test providers in England by visiting the test provider site.
Travellers must also fill out the passenger locator form, up to 48 hours before arriving in the UK.
VisitBritain reminds Canadian travellers that each country within the UK may have different rules in place, and encourages visitors and travel advisors to find out the requirements before arriving in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Visitors and advisors can also find more information on the UK’s COVID-19 traffic light system and guidelines on www.gov.uk.
“We are thrilled by the news that Canada will be added to the UK Government’s green list as of Monday, August 30. Canada is a robust and growing inbound market for Britain with strong cultural ties. We know Canadians have been eager to visit again, and with Britain’s tourism and hospitality businesses reopened, we are ready to welcome them back to our iconic cities, countryside, and world- class cultural attractions,” says VisitBritain Senior Vice President, The Americas, Paul Gauger.
Gauger adds: “Tourism is an extremely competitive global industry and we had already forecast a slow recovery, with overseas visitor spending in the UK this year of £6.2 billion compared to £28.4 billion in 2019, so being able to welcome more international visitors back by safely reducing barriers to travel is a crucial step on the industry’s road to rebuilding.”
Fully vaccinated visitors from the U.S. and Europe have been able to travel to the UK quarantine-free since Aug. 2, however Canada was still relegated to the amber list.
In 2019 some 874,000 Canadian visits to the UK marked the second highest on record, plus Canadians spent £724.36 million in the UK in 2019, another record.
According to VisitBritain’s research, 64% percent of Canadians keen to travel had not yet booked or decided where to go. It’s an opportunity to influence decision-making, destination-choice and bookings, says VisitBritain.
The UK’s upcoming events include the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, COP26, Coventry City of Culture, The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and Festival UK 2022.
On July 19 Britain moved to its fourth and final stage of reopening. More than 50,000 businesses have signed up for the ‘We’re Good To Go’ mark, launched last year by VisitEngland in partnership with the tourism boards of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The industry standard means businesses can demonstrate that they are adhering to the respective government and public health guidance, have carried out a COVID-19 risk assessment and checked that they have the processes in place to welcome visitors back with confidence. The ‘We’re Good to Go’ mark is recognized by the WTTC as meeting its international global standardized health and hygiene protocols and for its role in supporting the recovery of the UK tourism sector.
More details can be found at visitbritain.com.
