Upcoming easing of travel restrictions should eventually allow vaccinated holidaymakers from large parts of the EU and USA to come to England without quarantining, while international cruise holidays can depart from England when the new rules kick in.

The new rules were announced by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, but they have yet to be reciprocated for British tourists who want to visit the USA or EU, which are both concerned about rates and variants in the UK.

The USA and individual countries within the EU will have their own say on whether or not they will allow their residents to holiday in England and the rest of the UK.

Read more:Fully jabbed travellers from US and EU may be able to avoid quarantine in UK

The move should be a boost for tourism in England and is one of the steps to opening up Newcastle's port at North Shields for holidaymakers from the EU travelling from the Netherlands, although the UK is not on the list of countries the Dutch Government will allow holiday travel to and from.

Cruise ships departing from England will be permitted to call at international destinations when the new rules kick in, subject to restrictions they place on holidaymakers from England and the rest of the UK. Currently, cruise ships in England are only allowed to travel to domestic destinations.

Below, the PA news agency answers 11 key questions about the new travel rules.

In a nutshell, what has been announced?

Quarantine will be waived for fully vaccinated travellers from the US and much of Europe arriving in England.

What impact will that have?

It means trips to England will be viable for millions of people in those countries, boosting UK travel and tourism firms.

When does the change come into effect?

On Monday August 2 at 4am.

What parts of Europe are included?

The whole of the EU except France, the four European Free Trade Association members (Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Lichtenstein), plus the microstates of Monaco, Andorra and Vatican City.

What does fully vaccinated mean?

Travellers planning to take advantage of the new policy must be fully vaccinated with jabs authorised by the EU’s European Medicines Agency, the Food and Drug Administration in the US, or in the Swiss vaccination programme.

Will arrivals still be tested for coronavirus?

Yes, they will be required to take a pre-departure test, and a PCR test on or before the second day after they arrive in England.

They will be exempt from the day eight test.

What about children?

Children who usually live in the US or in one of the named European countries will be exempt from quarantine and the day eight test.

Those aged between five and 10 will also be exempt from the pre-departure test, with under-5s exempt from all tests.

What is the situation in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales?

Scotland and Wales have since followed the Government’s move on quarantine requirements.

The Welsh Government said it “regrets” the move but added it would be “ineffective” to have different rules for Wales.

Ministers in Northern Ireland will consider a proposal to follow suit during Thursday’s scheduled executive meeting. Health Minister Robin Swann is proposing that the region adopts the same rule change on Monday.

What do the changes mean for UK travellers who want to go to USA or EU?

Nothing. People who have been fully vaccinated are already exempt from self-isolation when returning from a country on the amber list, which includes the US and those EU countries not on the quarantine-free green list.

No widespread reciprocal deal to benefit UK travellers has been announced, and the US continues to be closed to most visitors from Europe, including the UK.

When is the UK Government updating its traffic light system for travel to and from England?

The list of green, amber and red countries is due to be updated in the first week of August, likely on Wednesday August 4 or Thursday August 5. Quarantine free travel is allowed into England from green countries, while those arriving from amber destinations are required to isolate at home, unless they are fully vaccinated. Anybody entering England from a red country must quarantine at a hotel after arrival.

What are the rules for travel from France to England?

They are unchanged. Travellers will continue to be required to quarantine, even if they are fully vaccinated.

What else was announced by Mr Shapps?

International cruises will be permitted to resume departing and arriving in England, although where they can go will depend on what other countries say.

Ships operating in England are currently restricted to domestic sailings.

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