A BRADFORD travel agent says the list of countries people can initially travel to from later this month is a step in right direction.

Portugal, Gibraltar and Israel are among 12 countries and territories people in England can visit from May 17 without self-isolating on their return, the Department for Transport said.

They are the only popular summer short-haul destinations out of 12 on the Government's new green list for travel.

Meanwhile Turkey, the Maldives and Nepal have been added to the red list.

People returning from those countries after 4am on Wednesday will be required to stay in a quarantine hotel for 11 nights at a cost of £1,750 for solo travellers.

The DfT also announced that from May 17, people who have had both doses of a coronavirus vaccine will be able to use the NHS app to demonstrate their status.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

People who do not have the app will be able to request an NHS letter from that date.

But France, Spain and Greece are some of the countries not included on the green list.

Tony Mann, director of Idle Travel based at Morrisons Shopping Complex at Five Lane Ends, says the next announcements of more countries permitted for travel will be eagerly awaited by his customers. He said: “I think the announcement was as expected.

“We never, in the travel industry, expected that first list to be a large one by any means.

“We knew it would start with a small list.

“As an industry, its positive that international travel will start on May 17.

“It’s looking like baby steps to start with. The second and third list is more important. It’s good that the government will review the list every three weeks.

“Most of our customers will look to when places like Spain and Greece are on the green list.

“People need to be aware there are plenty of things they need to do before they go on holiday at first.

“It’s the start and what we expected, hopefully as we go on the list will get longer.”

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps made the announcement in a Downing Street news conference today.

He said the removal of international travel restrictions on May 17 was "necessarily cautious", adding: "We must make sure the countries we reconnect with are safe."