What the ‘traffic lights’ mean for travellers

The next key date will be in early May when the government reveals whether destinations will be given green, amber or red designations.

There will also be a green “watchlist” for those destinations in danger of moving into the more restricted amber category.

“It is too early to say which countries will be in the green category this summer. These decisions will be driven by the data and evidence at the time,” said the government’s Global Travel Taskforce.

“The UK government will set out an assessment of which countries will fall into each category ahead of reopening international travel [from 17 May at the earliest].

“People are, of course, free to book holidays abroad in the summer but for the moment the government must advise that until the picture is clearer there is a continuing risk of disappointment.”

Here are details of the GTT’s main recommendations published on Friday (9 April).