As the nation awaits the government’s final say on how international travel will work this summer, it might be time to start considering some plausible backup options.

According to Robin McKelvie, it’s all about Scotland. He writes:

“They’ve stopped our Portugal escape,” lamented my neighbour as we huddled once again around the weary firepit. His disappointment at the green list exclusion was crushing; I had to act.

“What about enjoying some of the best things about Portugal here in Scotland?” I said, before I’d really formed the idea. An hour later he was sold. I was too, immersed not only in the layers of connections between the countries but, whisper it, all the things Scotland does even better.

Read his full piece here:

A final decision on travel rules this summer could be made as early as tomorrow, according to reports on ITV News.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps indicated in an interview with the broadcaster he accepted, in principle, that people who have been fully vaccinated will be allowed to go abroad without having to quarantine on their return.

But he also stressed the government was “listening to what the scientists are saying”.

There’s more from our travel correspondent Simon Calder here, where travel agents discuss being pushed aside by ministers.

“From January to June this year from my agency we have had two people travel abroad,” one said.

Read the full piece here:

Huw Merriman, the Conservative MP for Bexhill & Battle and chair of the Transport Select Committee, told The Independent: “The Conservative government – the government that looks after businesses and stands for individual freedom – needs to do a lot more when it comes to the international travel sector, to keep people in their jobs, allow people to go and see their loved ones abroad.

“I will not just reserve my ire for the Conservative government; also Labour and the SNP front benches need to stop with this race to the bottom in destroying this industry.”

At the Downing Street press conference the vaccines minister, Nadhim Zahawi, appeared to back the “testing or vaccination” model which the travel industry is demanding.

“We will continue to work with other countries, with the travel taskforce, to see how we can build on all this really good progress, on the vaccination progress, so that we can have the use of the double vaccination – with testing – open up more of the economy.

“I was at Wembley for that first England match against Croatia. It actually worked incredibly well as part of the events trial – going for a lateral flow test beforehand because I haven’t had enough time for my second vaccination because one of the rules was you had to be either double vaccinated and have 14 days after or a lateral flow test within 24 hours of the event.

“So a combination of, I think, is the way forward and we are looking at all of that at the moment to see how we can, one, open up more of our economy and of course make sure that we work with other countries to facilitate travel globally, because we need to get the travel industry back on its feet.”

The government is mulling plans to allow fully vaccinated Britons to be exempt from quarantine when they return from an amber-listed country.

Most of Europe, bar Gibraltar and Iceland, is currently rated amber.

As a reminder: amber countries are not illegal to travel to; but they do mandate 10 days of self-isolation and two PCR tests after arrival home.

Add to this that not many amber destinations will actually allow British travellers in.

Helen Coffey has rounded up the top amber holiday destinations here that are welcoming British travellers - whether vaccinated or not.

Read her report here.

Good news for Greece holidaymakers if the country (or its islands) makes it onto the green list on Thursday.

The southern European nation said that from 24 June it would end the mandatory wearing of face masks outdoors, and ease other restrictions as infections fell.

Face masks must be worn indoors, but only outdoors if the space is particularly crowded.

“The country’s improved epidemiological picture is clear and pleasant,” said Vana Papaevangelou, a member of the committee of infectious disease experts advising the government. “The outlook is favourable.”

Limits in restaurants and social gatherings will increase, and the number of people allowed on beaches will increase to 120 per 1,000 square metres.

Additional reporting by agencies

Amid the travel news are the latest Covid figures in the UK

A further 16,135 lab-confirmed Covid-19 cases were recorded in the UK on Wednesday, the highest number since 6 February. It represents an almost 40 per cent increase in just 24 hours.

The government also recorded 19 more deaths within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19.

The Independent’s Alastair Jamieson has the story here.

Ahead of the next traffic light reshuffle tomorrow, the transport secretary has said he hopes “the world could open up”.

Grant Shapps told the PA news agency that other countries are “catching up” with the UK’s coronavirus vaccination programme.

Most countries in Europe, including holiday hotspots Greece, Spain and France, are currently on the UK’s amber list, which necessitates 10 days of self-isolation and two post-arrival PCR tests.

Only Gibraltar and Iceland are realistic non-quarantine destinations for British travellers at the moment.

Asked about the prospect of restrictions being eased, Mr Shapps said: “I’m optimistic that the world is catching up with where we are in our vaccination programme.

“What happens in the UK is, people say ‘well everyone I know or a lot of people I know are vaccinated’.

“People will say that, but of course as soon as you go abroad you find that’s actually not the case.

“So balancing the opening up whilst preserving people’s safety and security at home is absolutely at the forefront.

“Of course I very much hope the world could open up. We’ve got to follow the data, and that’s what we’ll be doing in the meetings over the next few days.”

Additional reporting by agencies