German ban on Brit tourists lifted from TODAY

GERMANY has lifted the UK travel ban from today, just weeks after it was introduced.

Brits wanting to visit the country will no longer have to quarantine or have a negative Covid test if they are fully vaccinated.

Germany introduced the Brit ban back in December in an attempt to curb the spread of the Omicron variant.

The rules, which came into force on December 19, banned airlines from transporting British tourists to Germany.

Only German citizens and residents, their partners and children, and transit passengers, were allowed to travel to the country from the UK.

Anyone entering the nation needed a negative PCR test and was required to quarantine for 14 days, regardless of vaccination status.

However, the German embassy confirmed: "With effect from 0:00 hours CET on Tuesday, 4 January 2022, the ban on carriage of persons travelling from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Germany and the associated entry restriction will be lifted."

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps described it as a "welcome development from our German colleagues".

France imposed similar restrictions for UK travellers from December 18.

"People cannot travel for touristic or professional reasons," the French government said in a statement.

"Faced with the extremely rapid spread of the Omicron variant in the UK, the government has chosen to reinstate the need for an essential reason for travel from and to the UK."

Government officials say they're "urgently seeking clarification" after Brits who live in the EU were stopped at the Eurotunnel - because they're banned from travelling through France.

Officials in France say British travellers must have a "compelling reason" to visit the country. No information is provided on what that might be.

Here are the latest travel rules and restrictions at the popular holiday hotspots.