Travel between the UK and 47 destinations has opened up for the first time in months after changes to the red list.

South Africa, Mexico, Thailand, Chile and the Philippines are among the countries people can now visit without the need to check into a quarantine hotel for 11 nights.

It means people will be reunited with family members they may not have seen for more than a year, and holiday-makers can jet off to a number of exotic locations.

Countries such as Brazil, which has been hard-hit by Covid, have been on the red list from when it was first introduced in February.

It meant travel was difficult and prohibitively expensive for many, with solo travellers having to pay £2,285 each for a stay in a quarantine hotel.

Many complained about the quality of the food and service as they were stuck inside for days on end.

The rules were introduced in order to minimise the risk that dangerous new variants could come to the UK.

Just seven countries will remain on the red list from Monday, all in Latin America.

They are Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Peru and Venezuela.

Meanwhile the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has lifted its advice against non-essential travel to a further 42 countries and territories.

Previously Brits were told not to travel to the destinations, even if they weren’t on the red list, because of the need to avoid non-essential travel during the pandemic.

This follows the removal of travel advisories to 41 locations last week.

The changes make it easier for people to obtain travel insurance for trips to those destinations.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has said this allows people to ‘exercise personal responsibility’, while Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has claimed ‘restoring people’s confidence in travel is key to rebuilding our economy’.

The travel industry welcomed the changes and reported a spike in demand from customers.

The sector has blamed quarantine and testing requirements for limiting its recovery.

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