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Greece, Cyprus and Israel strike Covid travel bubbles deal
Greece, Cyprus and Israel have reportedly struck a travel bubble agreement allowing citizens to travel freely between the three countries, including for tourism, using Covid vaccination certificates.
The Guardian reports that a deal between Israel and Cyprus was inked on Sunday (14 February) and would come into effect from 1 April. It follows an earlier agreement drawn up between Israel and Greece.
According to The Guardian, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated similar deals could be agreed with other nations, while Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis branded the arrangements a "trial run" ahead of like agreements in the future.
Israeli citizens who can prove they have been inoculated with an EU-approved Covid vaccine will not be subject to testing or a self-isolation requirement when travelling to Greece or Cyprus, The Guardian added.
Abta has championed vaccine certification as a means of restarting travel in the near-term rather than a full-scale vaccine passport regime.
Other bodies such as the World Travel and Tourism Council have called for caution on any potential rush towards vaccine passports.
Speaking on Monday (15 February) during a visit to a vaccination centre, prime minister Boris Johnson said certification could be "very much in the mix" in the future, highlighting the existing vaccine arrangements covering diseases such as yellow fever.
UK government ministers have been inconsistent in their messaging when it comes to vaccine certification or passports; vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi has ruled the idea out, but other ministers, including foreign secretary Dominic Raab, have said vaccine certification could play a role in reopening some aspects of society.
James Chapple
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