Amber-list countries including France, Spain and Greece have been added to the Government’s ‘safe’ travel list in a major boost to summer holidays.

The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) says it ‘no longer advises against all but  essential travel’ to these and several other destinations, ‘based on the current assessment of COVID-19 risks’.

The FCDO advice for Greece covers the mainland and all the Greek Islands. Previously, the mainland and all but five islands were on the ‘essential travel only’ list. Morocco and Jamaica have also been added to the safe list.

The holiday hotspots are among around 20 countries that have been removed from the ‘essential travel only’ list, just hours after Transport Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed fully vaccinated adults and children under 18 won’t have to quarantine on return from amber destinations from 19 July.

The new guidance means travel insurance will be valid for people visiting these newly added safe-list destinations.

Other destinations the FCDO says are now OK to visit include Luxembourg and Guadaloupe.