HOLIDAY bookings are set to take off now that rules on Covid testing for travellers have been eased, according to Barrhead Travel.

The company has revealed that holiday enquiries surged by more than 150% last month and bookings continued to climb by almost 40% during the first week of February.

As of today, fully-vaccinated travellers no longer need to take a Day 2 Covid test when they return to the UK.

Those who are not fully vaccinated no longer need to isolate once they have arrived home or take a Day 8 test but are still required to take pre-departure and Day 2 PCR tests.

Bosses at Barrhead Travel say they are optimistic that leisure travel will be close to pre-pandemic levels by the time the school summer holidays begin.

Tenerife remains the top destination for travel, with Orlando, Dubai, Turkey and Majorca also proving popular.

Jacqueline Dobson, president of Barrhead Travel, said: “Holidays are back for this year and we’re finally able to enjoy a travel experience that’s much more akin to what we’re used to, thanks to further relaxation on testing requirements.

“It’s set to be a busy few months for the travel industry as operations begin to scale back up in sync with the easing of global restrictions and the high demand for holidays."

Ms Dobson said there are clear signs that people are prioritising holidays after two years of disruption.

“The pandemic gave cause for reflection on what matters most to us – spending time with loved ones and making memories," she added.

"Holidays are always an important milestone, even more so this year as we make up for lost time and enjoy experiences with those who matter most to us.”