Relief for travel sector as likelihood of summer holidays boosted by PM
THE travel industry has expressed relief at the prospect of people in England being allowed to take summer holidays.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s road map for easing coronavirus restrictions states that hotels can reopen and foreign travel will be permitted from May 17 at the earliest.
The Government’s Global Travel Taskforce will reconvene to issue a report by April 12 recommending how international trips can be safely facilitated. This is also the earliest date that overnight stays in self-contained accommodation that do not require the shared use of facilities will be allowed.
Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy The PC Agency, who co-founded the Save Our Summer campaign, said the announcement was “the news the travel sector really wanted”.
He went on: “I’m sure virtually everyone in the travel sector will be pleased with the greater clarity and a timeframe of May for enabling those who’ve been vaccinated to travel overseas.
“By then, there will be over 16 million people eligible to travel abroad to see family, or for business or leisure, in a safe and responsible way.”
Mr Charles said the 850 firms who backed the Save Our Summer campaign will “welcome the Prime Minister’s boost to confidence”.
He went on: “It means more consumers can be reassured that their 2021 summer trip can take place, or they can get a refund or refix their travel date. They can book knowing that this summer will be even safer than last.
“We will need to see the finer details in the future reviews for the sector’s restart but the Prime Minister’s comments are certainly far more positive and realistic than those made by some ministers just two weeks ago.”
Earlier this month, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said foreign holidays will remain banned until “everybody” has had a coronavirus vaccine.
His comments sparked an angry response from the travel industry, which accused him of undermining consumer confidence.
Mr Johnson said the Government will continue to support the aviation sector, adding: “I believe setting a deadline of April 12 for the report of the reconstituted travel taskforce will give people time to make their plans for the summer.
“If things go well, if we can meet these not before dates, then I do believe there is every chance of an aviation recovery later on this year.”
British Airways chief executive Sean Doyle said it is “critical we start looking at a way to restart travel”, adding that he is “pleased the Government has acknowledged that”.
He went on: “We are an island nation whose history and future is defined by its connections with the world.
“UK aviation supports 1.56 million jobs and one in 10 jobs depends on travel and tourism, contributing £200 billion to the UK economy.
“We want to work with Government’s taskforce on a road map now to ensure that aviation is in a strong position to support the UK as we emerge from the pandemic.”