The local travel industry have blasted the government’s abrupt u-turn on quarantine-free travel to Spain and its islands as “disappointing” and “confusing”.
Calling for clarity, Sandra Corkin of Oasis Travel said: “A very disappointing decision given the fact that the outbreak in Spain is localised, and confusing as it includes the canary islands and Balearics which the Spanish government claim are safe.”
Echoing Sandra’s sentiments, Trevor Ardies of Rosetta Travel said: “We’re hoping the Spanish Islands will be reviewed separately, but it would need to be done quickly before any more damage is done.”
Peter McMinn of Northern Ireland’s leading tour operator Travel Solutions said: “The travel industry is on its knees and poor communication by the Executive and by Westminster is creating further financial hurt to an industry that employs thousands in Northern Ireland.
“As recent as Thursday past, our First Minster was praising the clarity on the relaxation rules, and two days later her Minster issued conflicting guidance that will cost jobs in the industry and will mean that many consumers will lose money, both in the cost of their holiday, but also in lost wages when they have to quarantine on their refunds from Spain.”
Peter continued: “The local outbound travel industry needs government help and if the executive can’t manage guidance then we need to see financial help to ensure mass closures and redundancies are avoided.”
Terry Murphy of Terra Travel said: “Just when we thought a little bit of normality had arrived, we were hit with the latest whammy requiring all arrivals from Spain (including the Canary and Balearic Islands) to quarantine for 14 days. The government advice also changed to avoid all but essential travel to the Spanish mainland.
“In a way, the move was not entirely unexpected, with Spain putting out mixed messages, firstly confirming new clusters of Covid 19 particularly in North Eastern Spain but indicating that these were under control. Alongside these announcements Spanish authorities were warning that a second wave of the virus could not be ruled out.
“There has been criticism of Westminster for its lack of warning of the quarantine imposition, but presumably stung by previous allegations of not acting quickly enough, the Government was determined not to caught out again.
“The major concern of both the travel trade and the general travelling public is the inclusion of both the Canary and Balearic Islands in the quarantine.
“Both sets of islands have had a relatively low infection and death rate from the virus and the same is still the case. There is currently widespread pressure, not least from the Tourist authorities in both sets of islands, on the UK Government to exclude them from the quarantine. Such a move would be widely welcomed by the travel trade and people who have already booked a holiday to one of the islands in question. Much more so by those already on holiday in one of the areas affected by the new regulation.”
Claire Mulligan of Clubworld Travel said: “I think the quarantine requirement should have been more regionally focused. The majority of the Spanish mainland and especially the Balearic and Canary Islands have infection rates well below the UK average. Hopefully there can be an amendment to allow for quarantine free travel to and from the safer areas.”
