Transport Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed tonight that Malta, Madeira, the Balearic Islands, several UK Overseas Territories and Caribbean Islands will be added to the Government’s green list from 4am on Wednesday June 30.
He also revealed it is the Government’s intention that “later in the summer” UK residents who are fully vaccinated will not have to isolate when travelling from amber list countries, adding that further details will be set out next month.
Under the current 'traffic light' system, travellers arriving in the UK from green list countries are not required to self-isolate - but those from amber and red list destinations do.
Suffolk travel agents have been among those calling for clarity and support for the industry.
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Earlier, Julia Croucher, who runs independent firm Travel With Jules in Woodbridge, said: "People who have been double vaccinated should be exempt from quarantine when they travel. Most countries are saying that if you've had both doses you can come in.
"Even on the red list, 34 of the 50 countries have had zero cases from people who have come back.
"Why are we stopping international travel? This was the point of the vaccination programme. The UK's going backwards and we're being left behind.
"It's just impossible that they can carry on with this system."
Andrea Powell, owner and managing director of Idelo Travel in Ipswich, said: "I think having both doses has to be an important element of the long-term ability for us to open again.
"If people feel safe, that is their choice. People are not being marched to an aeroplane. This is as safe as it is going to get.
"We cannot allow the traffic lights system to continue as it stands. Any business that can't trade its way out is not in a good position."
Bridget Keevil, founder of Travel Stop, which has branches in Elmswell, Claydon and Hadleigh, added: "I support being able to travel if you've had both vaccines. There has got to be a plus point for taking the vaccine.
"We were world-leading, but we seem to have been overtaken.
"I think the traffic light system can be kept. There will never be 100% of the people vaccinated, so there needs to be a way for people to travel."
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