With many of Cyprus' resorts areas nearly empty of tourists as the summer season is already winding down and people reluctant to travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, JET2 said it will resume flights from the United Kingdom Aug. 17.

That was to meet demand from tourists anxious to get to some sun and sand and away from the hard-hit UK, with Cyprus in July reluctantly allowing them to come amid fears they could bring the virus with them.

The tour operator was forced to cancel routes to the island earlier because of tough health protocols that included tourists showing tests proving they didn't have the Coronavirus.

Anyone entering Cyprus from the UK must have a negative coronavirus test within the last 72 hours, due to the UK being deemed a "category B" country.

Jet2, a low-budget carrier, initially claimed they would only allow holidays to resume if the UK became a "category A" country, which has no entry restrictions but changed its stance after Brits said they wanted to come, The Sun reported.

Routes and holiday packages will resume to the island's main airport on Larnaca as well as Paphos, flying from

However, due to increased demand, they are resuming from next week, with routes and holiday packages to Larnaca and Paphos, from Birmingham, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, London Stansted, Manchester and Newcastle.

Paphos will follow suit on August 18, from the same airports.  Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays said they were restarting due to the "clear demand" from the British, the UK being the island's former Colonial ruler.

He told the paper that, e explained: "We are delighted to be recommencing our flights and holidays program to Cyprus from 17th August and looking at the demand it’s very clear just how much our customers are looking forward to their well-deserved holidays in the Cypriot sunshine.

"These have been incredibly uncertain and difficult times for everyone, and we have been busy looking after our customers and doing the right thing for them,” he said.

Savvas Perdios, Deputy Minister of Tourism Cyprus added: "Jet2.com and Jet2holidays is one of our most loyal and trusted partners and we are more than eager to once again, welcome its customers to Cyprus.

To enter the country, Brits will need to get a COVID-19-negative test results, although the UK's National Health Service does not offer free coronavirus tests for travel reasons and it can cost up to the equivalent of $290.44 per person and travelers to Cyprus must also complete a Cyprus Flight Pass before travelling which has results uploaded within 24 hours of your departure, some families being blocked for not meeting requirements.