Haven’t got the right documents for travel? That will be £200 please
Yet Seychelles will welcome us without any proof at all...
TRAVELLERS face being fined £200 if they turn up at an airport without completing a form stating the reason for their trip, the Department for Transport said yesterday.
From Monday, people travelling internationally from England will need to fill in and carry a “declaration to travel” document downloaded from the Government’s website.
The form can be printed off or stored electronically on a mobile phone.
International travel from England is only permitted for limited reasons, such as work, volunteering, education, medical grounds and funerals.
The three-page form requires people to fill in their personal details and tick a box indicating why they are leaving the country.
Police, who have been stepping up patrols at ports and airports in recent weeks, will have the power to ask travellers to produce the completed form.
Individuals unable to do so could face a £200 fine.
Anyone found to be attempting to travel internationally without a valid reason will be asked to return home and could receive a fixed-penalty notice for breaking stay-at-home rules, which start at £200 and double for each incident – up to a maximum of £6,400.
Foreign holidays for people in England will not be permitted before May 17 under Boris Johnson’s roadmap for easing lockdown restrictions.
However, some countries are already gearing up for a return of the holiday season.
The Seychelles says it is set to welcome back Britons without proof of a coronavirus vaccination or quarantine restrictions.
Protocols
The small island nation off the east coast of Africa is looking to reopen its borders from March 25 – although Britons will have to wait.
Sylvestre Radegonde, the Seychelles’ minister for foreign affairs and tourism, said: “The
measures being announced reflect broadly the recommendation of our tourism partners and have been done in consultation with, and endorsement of, our health authorities.”
Cyprus has already confirmed it will welcome Britons from May 1 if they are fully vaccinated, including having their second jab at least seven days before travel.
Express travel editor Nigel Thompson said: “We are regarded by many countries as premium, highly-desirable travellers as we head abroad in our tens of millions and contribute hugely to vital tourism industries.
“So, given the brilliant and enviable success of our Covid
vaccination programme, it’s no great surprise that the everfriendly folk in Cyprus are ready to roll out the welcome mat to jabbed visitors.
“We can expect Greece to follow suit soon, with the likes of Spain, Turkey, Portugal and Israel also working hard to get their protocols in place.”
Portugal hopes to be able to welcome UK visitors from May 17, the country’s tourism minister Rita Marques said yesterday.
She added: “For now, nonessential travel needs to be restricted.
“But I do believe that Portugal will soon allow restriction-free travel, not only for vaccinated people but those who are immune or who test negative.” Nigel believes it will be three months before Britons can travel again.
He said: “The UK’s stunning jabs rollout is the key to Britons jetting away to selected European destinations, and I believe the PM’s roadmap travel restart will most likely commence from mid-June onwards.
“Tourist destinations want (and need) us this summer and will move heaven, earth and a swimming pool of hand sanitiser to welcome us safely – and, of course, public safety while travelling and in resorts is absolutely paramount.”
Travel companies have warned against rolling out the same “travel corridor” policy that was in place last summer ahead of travel starting again this year. Wider testing of passengers is being favoured instead by 91 per cent of the firms, in a poll from the travel campaign group Save Our Summer.
It also found that 79 per cent said testing should replace other moves being touted.
Firms also wanted to see the end of hotel quarantine after May 17 – the same day that the Government is looking to kickstart overseas travel.
And a total of 85 per cent backed the use of digital certificates for single journeys as proof travellers had been given the Covid-19 jab.
Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy The PC Agency and co-founder of Save Our Summer, said: “Opinion is sharply against the reintroduction of travel corridors, which caused so much financial pain to business and leisure travellers last summer.
“Firms across the travel and tourism sector are united in calling for the Government to introduce widespread testing for arrivals instead, even if it means extra costs.
“This would enable travel to seamlessly start up safely and responsibly, in the same way schools are doing.”
Henry Morley, chief executive of True Travel and co-founder of Save Our Summer, added: “The burst in inquiries following the Government’s roadmap announcement on February 22 was short-lived.
“No matter how flexible our booking policies, consumers need real clarity in order to commit.”