Filenews 5 March 2021
A "huge boost" for Britain's tour operators and organisations is described by the British press as the announcement by Deputy Tourism Minister Savvas Perdiou of the decision to host vaccinated British tourists from 1 May.
All the British media cite the Statements of the Secretary of State to the CYPE, noting that "the borders of Cyprus will be opened" for those Britons who have done both doses of the vaccine, which will remove the need for diagnostic tests and quarantine.
What is stressed is that based on Boris Johnson's exit roadmap, a possible date on which leisure trips abroad will be allowed is 17 May at the earliest. Therefore, it is commented on, the Cypriot announcement reinforces the hope for an international holiday for the British, but potentially also creates a "headache" for the British Government which may come under pressure from the domestic tourism industry to speed up the timetable for lifting the restrictions.
The Sun recalls that the date for the start of leisure trips abroad is expected to be finalised on 12 April, when the recommendations of the Working Group on International Travel will be presented.
The Times writes that travel groups and agents in Britain will now begin to close deals for their customers with hotels in Cyprus and other countries announcing that they will accept guests from the country.
British travel companies, such as easyJet, have at times said they will be ready to respond to moves by countries to allow travellers from Britain to arrive. Last week easyJet's chief executive said the company was ready to increase the full capacity of flights to these countries.
The Times adds that Cypriot authorities are studying ways to check that arrivals from Britain have done the two doses of vaccines. Among these ways could be an app for smartphones or certified letters from doctors.
The Daily Mail writes that Cyprus has been "in and out" of lockdown for about a year, "but its own crown outbreak is mild compared to other countries."
He also points to the expanded diagnostic test programme, "with almost everyone having to take tests once a week."
Sky News informs interested travellers that 36,004 cases and 232 deaths from coronavirus have been recorded in Cyprus.
The Guardian notes the agreement already concluded by Cyprus with Israel on the reception of vaccinated tourists.
It also recalls that the British Government has said it is in discussions with other Governments and travel organisations about the possibility of an international vaccination certification scheme.
The Independent's experienced travel editor Simon Calder said commenting on the Cyprus announcement that due to the progress of the vaccination programme in the UK, British tourists will be very "attractive" to countries looking for ways to "restore their tourism industry, at the same time limiting the risk to public health to a minimum."
Asked what could apply to a family some of whose members would have done both doses of the vaccine and others only one or no dose, Mr Calder estimated that Cyprus would also accept negative diagnostic tests that would have been done within 72 hours before departure.
So far in the UK the first dose of the vaccine has made 20,982,571 citizens and the second dose 963,862.
A second dose of both Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccine is given within 12 weeks of the first. By 1 May the second dose of the vaccine is estimated to have been given to around 11 million people in the UK.
Eyenews/AFP
