Holiday 2021: plans for international travel will be revealed on 5 April

Cannes heat: the French Riviera in July 2020 (Simon Calder)

Prospective international travellers will learn more about the rules for going abroad this summer three months to the day after the latest lockdown began.

Since 5 January it has been illegal to go abroad, except for one of a limited number of reasons – which do not include going on holiday or visiting family or friends.

A week earlier than planned, on Easter Monday, 5 April, the government will spell out the conditions by which international travel may be permitted.

The date was revealed by the prime minister in Tuesday’s Downing Street briefing.

On 5 April, ministers are expected to set out the basis for a “traffic light” system for overseas countries and possibly regions, based on infection levels, vaccination rates, the presence of variants and the robustness of the health system.

Read more: 

• Travel industry fury at ‘coordinated campaign’ to undermine holidays
• How the ‘traffic light travel’ system could work 
• Summer holidays would bring ‘real risk’ of Covid variants, says scientist 
• When can we travel again? Key lockdown easing dates

Non-essential visits abroad will not be allowed until 17 May at the earliest. The travel industry, which has been severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic, is planning to restart at scale on that day.

But increasing concerns among epidemiologists about the surge of infections across Europe and the spread of variants means the government will be extremely cautious about reopening.

From 29 March, anyone who tries to go on holiday abroad from England faces a fixed penalty of £5,000.

The Independent understands that on the same date, more countries are likely to be added to the existing “red list” of 25 high-risk nations from which hotel quarantine is required for returning travellers.

There are concerns about Kenya, which looks set to become the latest African country to join the red list, which also includes South Africa and Ethiopia.

Eastern European nations are experiencing very high infection rates, with levels in Poland and the Czech Republic causing alarm.

Rumours are circulating that suggest France – the second most popular holiday nation for British travellers after Spain – may also be added. But it is thought that diplomatic pressures will keep France off the list for now.