The United Kingdom (UK) government has lifted its advice against non-essential travel to a further 51 countries and territories. Popular destinations like India, Thailand, Indonesia, the Bahamas, Jamaica, South Africa, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Cuba are among the list. It comes after the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) removed travel advisories for 32 countries a few days back. They will be treated the same as double-jabbed British residents as long as they have not visited a red list country in the 10 days before arriving in the country.

This means that obtaining travel insurance when visiting any of the 83 countries will be much easier. Liz Truss, Foreign Secretary said: “These updates make travel abroad easier – boosting trade, tourism and reuniting friends and families.”

The move is part of a new policy to stop advising British passengers to avoid all but essential travel to non-red list countries on Covid-19 grounds – excluding “exceptional circumstances”, such as if the local healthcare system is overwhelmed.

The FCDO said the change in policy follows the “improved public health in many countries” and the “decreased risk to British nationals” as a result of the vaccine rollout.

It comes just a day after the government announced a major travel rules shake-up, making it easier and cheaper to enjoy trips abroad as testing regulations are eased and more countries are removed from the red list.

Later this month, passengers returning to England will no longer need to take a PCR test – the prices of which have been a point of an issue since the system was introduced.

Double-jabbed travellers arriving home from any non-red list country will be allowed to replace their day two PCR test with a much cheaper lateral flow.

Travellers will also be able to show proof of their negative lateral flow test by photographing the result and sending it across – though the finer details of this are yet to be explained.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the “goal” is to have made the switch ahead of this month’s half-term break around October 22.

“I’ve spoken to the airports including Heathrow and they even have tests available as you walk through the airport, so you could be done and dusted before you even get home with these things, which will be a massive improvement to having to send off PCR tests to labs and waiting for the results and all the costs involved,” he told Times Radio.

The red list will also be reduced to just seven countries after a further 47 are set to be removed from 4 am on Monday, October 11.

It was welcome news for many British residents who have been separated from their loved ones in red list countries due to the mandatory stay at a quarantined hotel at a cost of £2,285 for a solo traveller.