Cyprus to let in COVID-vaccinated Brits from May 1

Cyprus will allow British tourists who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 into the country without restrictions from May 1, its tourism minister said on Thursday (March 4).

British visitors are the largest market for Cyprus's tourism industry, which has suffered from the global pandemic.

Arrivals and earnings from the sector, about 13% of the Cypriot economy, plunged on average 85% in 2020.

The measure will allow British holiday makers to visit the island without a negative test or needing to quarantine.

Travellers would need to be inoculated with vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency.

The second dose of a vaccine should be given at the latest seven days before travel.

Due to its swift vaccine deployment Britain is the only major European country likely to fully inoculate a large share of working-age adults by summer.

Cyprus has been in and out of lockdown for about a year.

But its coronavirus outbreak has been mild compared to other countries.