Austria is set to wish the UK a not-so-merry Christmas by essentially banning visitors who are not triple jabbed from Christmas Day.

Austria’s latest coronavirus measures sees holidaymakers from the UK, the Netherlands, Norway and Denmark having to undergo mandatory quarantine if entering Austria from Christmas day – unless they are triply jabbed and can show a negative PCR test.

The Austrian government implemented the measure after declaring the four mentioned countries Omicron hotspots. Although Omicron is already present in Austria, it is hoped the latest measure will stop the variant from spreading more rapidly.

Austria introduced the stringent entry procedures along with a raft of other measures, including a curfew in the catering trade, which will be set at 10pm from 27th December, with an even earlier time set for New Year’s Eve.

Indoor events are also limited and there are different rules people must follow depending on group size.

The restrictions on travel are set to affect both British travellers and the Austrian tourist trade, as Austria is a popular winter sports destination among Brits.

Neighbouring Switzerland is set to reap the spoils of Austria’s new measures, as it has not, for the time being, introduced stringent measures of its own, and the slopes of Gstaad, Muerren and Verbier are hoping to pick up those visitors who are calling off their Austria holidays.

Switzerland is already reporting that more Brits are holidaying in Swiss ski resorts than usual, with strict entry regulations in other countries cited as a possible reason.

Furthermore, in Switzerland, coronavirus rules regarding restaurants are laxer, making the country all the more attractive as a holiday destination.

Flurin Riedi, director of Gstaad Saanenland Tourism, told Swiss news outlet 20 Minuten: “It’s nice that the guests from the UK can travel again and come to us and enjoy the winter.”