The government has just announced its green list for quarantine-free international travel into England.
There is a mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine in place for all arrivals, which severely limits the numbers arriving, as well as a negative test taken within the last 72 hours.
Travellers are required to have confirmation of a negative Covid-19 PCR test result in the 72 hours prior to departure and to undergo quarantine or managed isolation in an approved facility for at least 14 days.
While its vaccination programme has reached only a tiny proportion of its population, it has confirmed only 229 cases in total since last January, according to World Health Organization data, and only three deaths; all of which occurred last year.
Its worst spell was last April; since August 2020, weekly caseloads have been measured in the hundreds – and even in the double digits in many of the weeks since then.
All travellers, other than children under-12, will be tested upon arrival at the border and a follow up test on the sixth day of the visit is strongly recommended, at the cost of approximately DKK 312-390 per test.
Israel has said it will open to tourists from 23 May, with all visitors being required to undergo a PCR test before boarding a flight to the country, and a serological test to prove their vaccination upon arrival if agreement has not been reached for a vaccine certificate.
Israel began easing restrictions on 7 March from its third lockdown, with the reopening of restaurants, cafes, event venues, attractions, shops and malls for everyone.
The country’s management of Covid-19, along with the world’s fastest vaccination campaign, means it can be considered one of the safest destinations to visit this summer in terms of the pandemic.
They will then be allowed to make their way to their first night’s accommodation, where they will be asked to limit contact with others until their test results are received, which should be within 24 hours and usually within about six hours.
The government is expected next week to set out its roadmap for easing restrictions further, with a greater number of people being allowed to gather by the end of May while observing a 1-metre social distancing rule, leading to no restrictions by the end of June, subject to the vaccination rollout.
And, while Reykjavík’s cool hangouts and the “golden circle” route of Thingvellir national park, the Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall were inundated by tourists pre-pandemic, it remains a country where wilderness is easy to find.
Operation Freedom, the name given to Gibraltar’s vaccination programme, made it the first place in the world where every willing resident over the age of 16 had been fully vaccinated, securing its berth on the green list.
The British overseas territory on Spain’s south coast has long laboured under the weight of its reputation to deliver full English breakfasts, fish and chips and pints of London Pride on tap.
When Grant Shapps said the government wanted to plot a cautious reopening of travel, few would have expected him to add the British overseas territories of the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha to the green list.
South Georgia and the Falklands are usually included in premium bucket-list wildlife and birding cruises to Antarctica, where the stars of the show are icebergs and king penguins rather than people.
On 5 May the tourism minister, Rita Marques, told BBC Breakfast entry requirements would be “as simple as possible” with visitors proving they have had the vaccine, have immunisation or a negative test.
For arrivals to Madeira a PCR test 72 hours before travel is required.
In the past decade Portugal has gone from primarily being known for package holidays on the Algarve and golf to being named Europe’s leading destination.