Popular European holiday hotspot changes travel rules for Brits

CYPRUS is the latest country to change the travel rules for tourists travelling to the country.

Last month, Cyprus introduced new restrictions which required all arrivals to have a negative PCR test on arrival, even if fully vaccinated.

Cyprus has changed the entry rules for tourists

However, new rules have been announced which will now allow lateral flow tests – a much cheaper option.

According to local media: “Passengers aged 12 years old and over who arrive in Cyprus as of January 14 at 0500 local time, will have the option of taking a PCR test carried out up to 72 hours before their departure or an antigen rapid test carried out up to 24 hours before their departure.”

Not only are they much cheaper – being on average £60 less than PCRs – but they can be taken much later, giving passengers more time to get tested.

Travellers must still take a second PCR test as soon as they land at the airport in Cyprus, at a cost of between €15 and €19 depending on the destination.

Brits must self-isolate in their accommodation until they receive their test result – which should be within three hours.

The easing of restrictions will be welcomed by Brits planning their next holiday to Europe, after the UK lifted some of their own testing restrictions.

The pre-arrival test has been scrapped while the day two test can now be a lateral flow instead of a PCR test.

And other countries are lifting their own travel restrictions as Omicron spreads across Europe.

Germany lifted their UK travel ban earlier this month, while French MPs have confirmed their own British holidaymaker ban will be lifted ‘within days’”.

Travellers are still being urged to check the rules before booking a holiday, however – countries like Morocco are yet to lift their own UK travel ban.

Here are the 38 countries which UK tourists are still banned from.

The new testing rules for arrivals to Cyprus will change from Friday