In a tweet, transport secretary Grant Shapps said arrivals from Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela will be banned from 4am on Friday (15 January).
Travel from Portugal to the UK will also be suspended "given its strong travel links with Brazil – acting as another way to reduce the risk of importing infections". However, there is an exemption for hauliers travelling from Portugal to allow transport of essential goods.
This measure does not apply to British and Irish nationals and third country nationals with residence rights – but passengers returning from these destinations must self-isolate for 10 days along with their households. Any exemptions usually in place will not apply, including those related to employment, apart from hauliers travelling in Portugal.
The UK government also confirmed in a statement that it was introducing a flight ban on any of these countries with direct flights to England. These countries are Argentina, Brazil, Cape Verde and Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores).
Danny Callaghan, chief executive of the Latin American Travel Association (Lata), said he recognised the rationale for the government’s decision, but called for the ban to be reviewed at the earliest opportunity.
"At Lata, we appreciate this a rapidly evolving scenario and understand the government’s decision to impose a temporary ban while the situation is being assessed.
"That said, it is vital that this travel ban is reviewed on an ongoing basis subject to the epidemiological situation and the associated risks and not just forgotten about or kicked down the road endlessly."
Callaghan said Lata would continue to lobby for a test and release model to allow travel to restart safely.
"This model was implemented for lorry drivers stuck in Dover prior to the Christmas period," he said. "If it works for a lorry driver, it can work for tourists."
The Lata chief said Latin America’s tourism sector had been hit hard by the Covid downturn, warning the ban would have a "further knock-on effect" on consumer confidence.
However, he praised the work ongoing across Latin America to ensure tourism can recover safely.
"Our destination partners are working hard to implement their own health and hygiene protocols while many of our private sector members have received the WTTC’s Safe Travel stamp.
"Likewise, the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine has already commenced in a number of Latin American countries."
