Travel agents believe summer holidays will still be possible despite the introduction of a £5,000 fine for anyone trying to travel abroad without good reason due to come into force next week.

The penalty is included in Covid legislation which will be voted on by MPs on Thursday.

Tui, which has shops in Didcot, Abingdon, Cowley and throughout Oxfordshire, said they were awaiting more information after the Government’s Global Travel Taskforce reports on April 12.

READ MORE: Holidays abroad banned and £5,000 fines under new Covid laws - what you need to know

A spokesperson for Tui said: “ We believe holidays this summer will be possible, taking into account our outstanding vaccination programme and the use of testing where required.

“We recognise that entry requirements will vary from country to country and we will do everything we can to communicate requirements to our customers.

Flexibility

“Currently all TUI holidays have been cancelled before May 17 and all customers with a booking before the end of June are able to move it to another time for free as we recognise the uncertainty around travel at this time.”

Kirsten Hughes, managing director of personal travel consultancy Travel Counsellors, agreed that holidays would be possible later in the year.

She said: “We are awaiting further details from the Global Travel Taskforce reporting on the roadmap for international travel on 12 April, and in the meantime fully supporting our customers to make informed choices on travel both in the UK and abroad this year, and ensuring their money is kept safe in our ATOL-protected financial trust.”

The Global Travel Taskforce is considering a tiered or traffic light system for international travel when the ban on leaving the country is lifted.

Decisions about which countries are in which tier will be taken after April 12.

Under the current plan for easing restrictions, the earliest date people in England can go abroad for a holiday is May 17.

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