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Everything you need to know about Malta being added to UK green list
The United Kingdom has finally added Malta to their Green List, which means that fully vaccinated British travellers will be able to travel to the Maltese Islands without the need to quarantine when they return. The announcement undoubtedly came as a relief to the tourism sector, as Malta welcomed no less than 650,000 British travellers in 2019 alone.
But what exactly does being added to the UK green list mean? Can people travel to and from the UK without being tested? Can British tourists visit the Maltese Islands without the need to quarantine?
Do I need to be vaccinated to travel to Malta from the UK?
Yes. Shortly after the much-anticipated decision, the Maltese health authorities issued a counter measure. In order to safeguard the health of local residents as well as tourists, anyone travelling from the UK must by fully vaccinated. As of 30 June, therefore, only fully vaccinated British tourists will be permitted to enter the country. Also, the certificate must be recognised by the Superintendence of Public Health.
What if I’m not vaccinated?
Here’s the not-so-great news for those who are not vaccinated. Any and all other arrivals from the UK, who are not in possession of a vaccine certificate, will have to complete mandatory quarantine. A decision, according to the Maltese government, which is being taken due to the variant cases reported in the UK.
Travelling from the UK from Malta
In order to travel from the UK to Malta, you must take a COVID-19 test on or up to 48 hours prior to travelling. Children under the age of four need not take the test and you do not need to quarantine, unless the test is positive.
The Maltese Islands failed to make the green list not once, but twice, despite the low number of cases and successful vaccination programme. However, Malta will finally be on the UK’s green list as of 30 June. Northern Ireland and Scotland announced earlier that Malta was also a new addition to their green lists.
Alan Arrigo, the head of the Malta Chamber’s tourism section said that: “This is a significant development as the British market is Malta’s largest, and the UK’s decision confirms the remarkable progress in controlling the spread of COVID-19 in Malta.”
What do you think of all this?
