Hawaii looks to welcome vaccinated tourists quarantine-free in 2021

Hawaii could start lifting quarantine rules for travellers who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 in a bid to give its tourism industry a boost.

Under the current rules, anyone arriving to the Hawaiian islands must spend 10 days in mandatory self-isolation, unless they can provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of their arrival.

However, Hawaii’s Lieutenant Governor Joshua Green has said that authorities are currently looking at how a ‘Vaccine Passport’ could work for travellers, so that those who have received the coronavirus vaccine can also be exempt from quarantine.

He told Hawaii News Now that this could involve vaccinated travellers receiving an electronic code which would also allow them to travel between islands, and that there were hopes the programme could start as early as March.

Meanwhile, the island of Kauai has already gone one step further and unveiled ‘resort bubbles’. These allow visitors to cut their quarantine time down from 10 days to just three days, the latter which they can spend exploring the resort and using facilities such as the restaurants and pools.

Unfortunately a trip to the USA isn’t on the cards for Brits right now. At the time of writing the US continues to keep its borders closed to Brits, or anyone who has been in the UK within 14 days of arriving to the US. (You can find out more in the Foreign Office’s USA travel advice ).

Then of course, Brits are currently under a ban on international travel alongside national lockdowns across the UK. This means it’s illegal to travel abroad for leisure. There are some valid travel reasons such as health or work, but anyone heading abroad will need to be able to show proof that they have a valid reason or risk being sent home or fined.

Still, there is a glimmer of hope for holidaymakers as Covid-19 vaccines are rolled out around the world. A number of countries including Iceland, Cyprus and the Seychelles have already said that they will welcome vaccinated travellers, including lifting quarantine rules for those who have had the jab.

Meanwhile, Greece’s tourism minister has said that the country could still look to welcome unvaccinated Brits this summer provided they have proof of a negative Covid-19 result.