TUI lures UK holidaymakers with cheap COVID-19 tests ahead of travel restart

LONDON (Reuters) - Holiday company TUI launched a 20 pound ($28) testing package for its UK customers on Thursday, as Britain prepares to allow travel again from May 17 but with strict testing requirements.

Airlines and travel companies have complained that Britain's requirement for arrivals from low-risk countries to have two COVID-19 tests, one before arriving in the UK and one after arriving, will make holidays too expensive for many people.

TUI hopes to attract bookings from customers wary about testing costs by offering testing packages starting at 20 pounds, much cheaper than the current cost for a single test which can be up to 100 pounds.

Britain is expected to announce its green list on Friday, which will show which countries people can travel to without the need to quarantine on return.

($1 = 0.7194 pounds)

(Reporting by Sarah Young; Editing by Alistair Smout)