Cost of hotel quarantine set to rise to £2,250 in order to ‘make profit’

UK travel: Expert on increase in people travelling abroad

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Britons face a £500 increase in the costs of hotel quarantine when coming back from red list countries. This move comes after the Government explained the scheme “does not make a profit”.

Britons coming back from red list destinations have to quarantine for 10 days in a designated hotel at their own cost.

At the moment, this is set at £1,750.

Now, recent reports indicate that could go up to £2,250 after the next travel list review which is scheduled to take place in mid-August.

The Telegraph reported plans for a £500 increase as ministers consider red list trips “unnecessary”.

The newspaper explained ministers are frustrated that taxpayers are currently subsidising part of the costs.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the scheme “at the moment does not make a profit for the Government”.

He added: “I also want to point out that people should not be travelling to red list countries.

“The only people who should be coming back to Government quarantine are British or Irish citizens, or people with permanent rights of residence.”

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He continued: “There should be a limit to the number of people who are still abroad and wishing to return.

“I sometimes come across cases where people are still using the red list as if it is a case of ‘It’s ok, I can come back and hotel quarantine’.

“That should not be the case,” he explained.

Over 123,000 travellers have already stayed in hotels at a cost of up to £1,750 after arriving from red list countries.

At the moment, that price also includes food and beverage, security and PCR tests on day two and day eight.

Arrivals from red countries could potentially generate over £200 million in revenue.

However, the quarantine programme is very costly due to the level of control to ensure arrivals quarantine properly.

Currently, countries on the amber can be moved to red any time and with short notice if a spike in COVID-19 cases is found in the region.

Spain and Greece are now at risk of being downgraded to “amber plus”

The Mediterranean countries are on the amber list, meaning full-vaccinated Britons don’t have to self-isolate on return.

However, if moved to “amber-plus”, UK tourists will have to self-isolate for 10 even days, even if they have been fully vaccinated.

Due to concerns over the Beta variant, Spain and Greece could move to “amber plus” before the next travel review.

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