As from Monday, the 11^th October South Africa will finally be removed from the United Kingdom red list. The red list has severely restricted travel between the United Kingdom and South Africa.

While the red list has been in place the only travelers allowed to travel to the UK were British citizens and those with residency rights. Furthermore, such travelers had to quarantine for a mandatory 10 days at their own expense when they arrived in the UK. The quarantine was particularly expensive and cost 2 285 pounds (R 44 800).

This will be welcome news, particularly to the tourism industry in South Africa. The South African tourism industry has been at the forefront of lobbying efforts to get South Africa removed from the red list. It is estimated that the listing of South Africa on the red list has cost the South African economy approximately R 790 million per month.

In terms of its removal from the red list it will now mean that fully vaccinated travelers from South Africa will no longer have to quarantine on their arrival in the UK. Negative covid-19 test results will have to be presented when they arrive. Unvaccinated travelers will be able to travel to the UK, but will have to quarantine at their home or place of accommodation for 10 days.