Jersey has boosted its prospects for a wave of visitors from the UK this summer after clarifying that it is open to British holidaymakers.
Jet2.com and Jet2holidays said it expected a “surge in demand” following the Channel island’s update to its travel advice, which emphasises that Jersey is part of the UK’s Common Travel Area.
This means visitors from the UK will not have to take a PCR test before leaving the UK or face having to quarantine when returning to the mainland. Jersey is operating a traffic light system for arrivals from the UK with different levels of restrictions.
Jet2.com and Jet2holidays has expanded its programme to Jersey with flights from six of its UK bases this summer offering up to 11 weekly flights, with departures from 24 June. Five of the six routes are new for summer 2021.
Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “The government of Jersey should be commended for taking a leadership position and providing simple, clear travel advice for customers.
“As well as making this advice accessible and not a mass of confusion, the government of Jersey has demonstrated a strong commitment to reopening travel properly, with an approach that is based on data around vaccination and infection rates.
“We know our customers will welcome this advice and we look forward to other governments following this approach of clear, easy-to-understand travel advice which is based on data.”
The changes to Jersey’s travel policy takes effect from 00.01 on Friday (28 May).
Jersey’s chief minister John Le Fondre said: "Despite Scotland and Northern Ireland being classified as amber, passengers arriving from these countries who have been fully vaccinated two weeks before travel will be allocated a ’green light’ status, because of their lower risk.
“This means there is no isolation requirement, but passengers must declare their vaccination status before travelling, take a PCR test on arrival and show evidence of their vaccination status on request when arriving in Jersey.”
Those travelling to Jersey from 15 “red areas” in the UK, which are currently seeing high levels of the Indian variant of Covid-19, face having to quarantine for 10 days and taking three PCR tests during this period.