But there is anger and confusion from the seven countries in South America and the Caribbean remaining on the red list for now.

Elsewhere, the energy crisis continues with consumers being warned to expect record household bills of more than £2,000 in 2022, amid fears of surging inflation.

Here are the headlines the travel industry woke up to on Friday (8 October).

Just seven countries on red list as winter-sun destinations get green light

The red list has been slashed to just seven countries for travellers returning to England from next week, after the government removed 47 destinations from the list, including South Africa and Thailand. Plans to make holidaymakers video themselves taking lateral flow tests have also been abandoned. (Daily Telegraph/The i)

England’s remaining ‘red list’ restrictions confound South Americans

The government’s decision to keep seven South American and Caribbean countries on the red list has prompted “fury and confusion”. Travellers returning to England from these countries, including Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and the Dominican Republic, will still be required go into hotel quarantine. (The Guardian)

PCR tests for travellers ditched before half term

The cost of a family holiday is set to fall by around £200 after government sources confirmed that day two PCR tests will be scrapped by the time the half-term break starts on 22 October, when they will be replaced by cheaper lateral flow tests. The move is being seen as a further boost to the travel industry. (The Times)

Here comes your £2,000 per year energy bill

Consumers have been warned that their household energy bills could reach £2,000 next year because of the current soaring wholesale price of gas. The existing energy price cap of £1,277 could rise by as much as £800 from spring 2022, leading to fears of rapidly increasing inflation. (Daily Mail) 

New Delta strain discovered in Australia

Covid restrictions are set to be eased in Sydney next week after more than three months in lockdown, despite an increase in cases in the Australian city on Friday (8 October). Health officials have also revealed that genomic sequencing has uncovered a new Delta strain in eight positive cases. (Sky News)

60,000 may die of flu due to low immunity caused by lockdown

England’s deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam is urging Britons to “defend yourselves” by getting the free flu jab this winter, amid grim predictions showing the seasonal illness could cause up to 60,000 deaths in the coming months. The jab will be offered to around 35 million people. (The Mirror/The Sun)