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Sources suggest only a \u2018handful\u2019 of countries will make the quarantine-free list (Picture: Getty Images)Spanish and Greek islands are not expected to be put on the UK\u2019s \u2018green\u2019 travel list for holidays within the next few weeks.
\nSources suggest only a \u2018handful\u2019 of countries will make the quarantine-free list for travel, including Gibraltar, Iceland, Israel and Malta.
\nMost popular holiday destinations \u2013 such as the European countries of France, Spain, Greece and Italy \u2013 are expected to be given \u2018amber\u2019 status, meaning quarantine for 10 days after returning to the UK will be necessary.
\nThis will include all their islands, despite many of them reporting significantly fewer cases of coronavirus than their mainland countries.
\nThe tourism minister for the Balearic Islands said it should be considered on a region-by-region basis.
\nIago Negueruela, the tourism minister for the Balearic Islands, told The\u00a0Telegraph: \u2018The British Government [should] take the epidemiological situation of separate regions into account, rather than different countries.
\n\u2018We have the technology available to sequence the virus and its strains at a higher percentage than any other region.
\n\u2018We have made huge efforts to contain the pandemic, and the epidemiological figures for the Islands are among the best in Europe.\u2019<\/p>\n
Gibraltar is expected to be one of the few countries to where travel without quarantine afterwards is permitted (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Will you be jetting off abroad this summer? (Picture: Getty Images)Despite Europe being hit by a third wave of Covid-19, the Balearic islands have an infection rate of less than a quarter of Spain\u2019s. The Canary islands have also vaccinated a third of their adult population.
\nBut although transport secretary Grant Shapps said last month the Government\u2019s new traffic light ratings of countries will treat islands independently of their mainland, it appears none of them have made the coveted \u2018green\u2019 travel list.
\nJavier Gandara, tourism minister for the Canaries, said intensive testing and vaccination targeted at staff in the tourism industry \u2018have meant incidence of the pandemic has been almost nil in island tourist environments and much lower than in mainland Spain\u2019.
\nIt comes as Greek islands quickly moved to roll out a vaccination programme so they could welcome back tourists as soon as possible.
\nDestinations such as Minos and Kythnos have vaccinated more than half of adults, which is more than triple the rate of mainland Greece.<\/p>\n
Currently, people entering the UK from red list countries must quarantine in a Government-mandated hotel at their own cost (Picture: Getty Images)The governor of Crete said the island is a \u2018safe destination\u2019, as more than a quarter of its adult population has now been jabbed.
\nStavros Arnaoutakis told The Telegraph: \u2018The region of Crete is a safe destination observing all the required protocols in order to ensure the safe accommodation of British tourists on our island.
\n\u2018We are expecting the positive decision of the British Government.\u2019
\nPortugal is thought to be the only major European holiday destination which could make it onto the approved list.
\nThe Government is set to unveil the travel list later on in the week, which will use a traffic light system to rank countries as \u2018green\u2019, \u2018amber\u2019 or \u2018red\u2019 depending on their level of risk.
\nMore: Coronavirus<\/p>\n
Green countries will allow travel without quarantine afterwards, but people will need to take tests before and after leaving the UK.
\nTravellers from amber list countries will have to isolate at home for 10 days after returning to the UK, and entry from red list countries will still be banned, with those returning having to quarantine in a Government-mandated hotel at their own cost.
\nAlthough Mr Shapps said the data \u2018looks good\u2019, he said\u00a0lifting restrictions must be \u2018cautious\u2019\u00a0due to the number of infections in Europe.
\nGet in touch with our news team by emailing us at\u00a0webnews@metro.co.uk.
\nFor more stories like this,\u00a0check our news page.<\/p>\n