ABTA has criticised the UK government following the latest travel update saying they are “still failing to capitalise fully on the success of the vaccine rollout” after failing “to relax restrictions on travel, including requirements for multiple tests” from “low risk destinations”.
The industry body has also called for a “greater sense of urgency from this Government to both get people travelling again and support the industry through this crisis”.
Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive of ABTA – The Travel Association said: “Today’s confirmation that France joins popular holiday destinations such as Spain and Greece on the list of countries that fully vaccinated individuals and their families can travel to without the need to
quarantine on return is positive, particularly as we are now in the critical school holiday season.
“However, the Government is still failing to capitalise fully on the success of the vaccine rollout with a very cautious approach to the green list and failure to relax restrictions on travel, including requirements for multiple tests even when visiting low risk destinations. As a result, the UK is falling behind our European competitors and the opening up of international travel from the UK is progressing at a snail’s pace – making it extremely difficult for travel agents and tour operators to generate enough income to kickstart a recovery, which is desperately needed to protect jobs, businesses and livelihoods.
“We need to see a greater sense of urgency from this Government to both get people travelling again and support the industry through this crisis. With furlough costs increasing for businesses this week, the need for tailored financial support remains critical. Travel agents, tour operators and travel management companies haven’t had access to the same level of grant support as other industries yet their opportunity to trade their way out of the crisis remains severely restricted by the Government. The Government also needs to be transparent to the travelling public and the travel industry about the basis on which these decisions are made.”
