British holidaymakers who have had both Covid jabs could reportedly enjoy more quarantine-free travel from August.

Ministers are said to be preparing an announcement of an overhaul of travel restrictions on Thursday.

They are expected to unveil plans to exempt travellers from the ten-day quarantine after visiting an amber list destination, according to the Times.

The report comes despite Boris Johnson playing down suggestions that restrictions on foreign travel could be lifted as more people received the coronavirus vaccine.

Speaking during a visit to a laboratory in Hertfordshire, the Prime Minister said: “I want to stress that this is going to be – whatever happens – a difficult year for travel.

“There will be hassle, there will be delays, I am afraid, because the priority has got to be to keep the country safe and stop the virus coming back in.”

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland earlier said ministers have not ruled out relaxing pandemic restrictions, such as on foreign travel and self-isolation, for those who have received both coronavirus vaccines.

He told the Andrew Marr Show the data on double vaccinations is “still developing” but added: “It looks great, it looks really encouraging, we’re trying to be as flexible as we can.”

Analysis of NHS Test and Trace figures found that fewer than one in 200 travellers who entered the UK from amber tier countries between May 20 and June 9 tested positive for coronavirus.

Members of the public, some wearing face coverings due to Covid-19, walk past shops in Kendal in Cumbria, north west England on June 21, 2021, where surge testing has been deployed following an outbreak of a coronavirus variant of concern. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

People returning from a green list country are not required to enter quarantine, but there are no major viable tourist destinations in that tier following the removal of Portugal, which led to accusations that decisions are being based on political rather than public health motives.

The amber list includes most popular summer hotspots such as Spain, Italy and Greece.

Ryanair and Manchester Airports Group – which owns Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports – are preparing legal action calling for more transparency over how Whitehall decides which countries are on the green, amber and red lists.

© PA Wire Officials are reportedly considering scrapping the 10-day quarantine period (Steve Parsons/PA)

The first “checkpoint” review since the traffic light system was introduced is due to take place on June 28.

But Paul Charles, chief executive at travel consultancy The PC Agency, said he does not anticipate any major changes.

He said: “I think caution is going to continue from the Government.

Members of the public queue to enter a temporary Covid-19 testing centre set up a car park in Kendal in Cumbria, north west England on June 21, 2021, following an outbreak of a coronavirus variant of concern. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

“I think there may well be very few changes. You may see maybe somewhere like Turkey move from red to amber, you may see a couple of greens added.

“But they’ve got to re-instil confidence in people about the traffic light system. The system is shot to pieces at the moment, because of the way that they treated Portugal two weeks ago.

“They’ve either got to reinvigorate the traffic light system, or they’ve got to outline how they’re going to enable fully jabbed citizens to travel with more freedom and not have to quarantine when they return from an amber country.”

He added: “I’m not sure they’re going to open things up very much at all until August.”

Source: Standard.co.uk