Phones ‘ringing off hook’ To Mexico told: Go back home
TRAVEL firms were yesterday cashing in on “enormous demand” from holidaymakers desperate to get away after the Government eased restrictions on top tourist destinations.
Some reported their phones were “ringing off the hook” as sun-starved families raced to book summer breaks in France, Spain, the Balearic Islands and Portugal.
The Daily Express can reveal bookings to France with easyJet almost doubled compared to last week in the hours after the Government eased restrictions on many favourite hotspots.
But the decision to move Mexico to the red list sparked chaos yesterday as passengers discovered mid-air they could face bills of thousands of pounds to quarantine when they return to Britain.
It left distraught holidaymakers desperately trying to make “arrangements to come home” before the rule changes come into force at 4am on Sunday.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps fired the starting gun for many to book last-minute getaways on Wednesday.
He announced fully-vaccinated arrivals from France will no longer
‘There’s been a huge spike in bookings. At last there is some good news’
need to self-isolate. Austria, Germany and Norway were all added to the green list.
And major transport hubs, such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, were moved off the red list, paving the way for fully-jabbed holidaymakers to book long-haul flights again.
Mr Shapps said: “We intend for these rules, barring something completely unforeseen, to remain in place throughout August so people can just go away and enjoy their breaks, or see family or friends or go on business.”
A Brittany Ferries spokesman said phones had been “ringing off the hook” sinceWednesday.
They said: “There’s been a huge spike in interest and bookings. At last there is some good news and some certainty – it’s a silver lining to the dark clouds that have been hanging over us.
“We suspect it’s a lot of second homeowners who were waiting to book, as well as last-minute holidaymakers.”
New figures from Jet2.com and Jet2holidays revealed bookings to green and amber list destinations rocketed by more than 250 per cent after the rules were relaxed.
The firms’ chief Steve Heapy said: “It is no surprise to see a sudden spike in bookings to destinations on the green and amber lists, as we know there is enormous demand out there from holidaymakers.The extension to the Green and Amber Lists has increased customer confidence and given them the reassurance to book.
“With customers continuing to be able to plan and look forward to flights and holidays across more than 40 green and amber list destinations, this summer is a much brighter one for holidaymakers.”
He added: “We hope this is just the beginning of even sunnier times ahead, as the Government continues to recognise the protection our successful vaccination programme provides when it comes to opening-up international travel.”
A spokesman for Eurotunnel Le
Shuttle said: “We’re delighted with the news that France returns to the amber list and can’t wait to welcome holidaymakers back on board our shuttles.
“We’re prepared for what we anticipate will be substantial demand for last-minute summer holiday trips.
“We saw a 400 per cent increase in sales immediately following the announcement with most of those being made for the summer.”
Villa holiday specialist Oliver’s Travels, saw a 43 per cent rise in bookings on Thursday.
And airline Emirates said it has received a “huge surge in queries” due to the decision to remove the UAE from the red list.
Mr Shapps has denied claims Dubai was taken off the travel red list so it could more easily act as an international “transport hub” and said the decision was based solely on advice from scientists.
He said: “This time they have come back and said Dubai and Qatar, the UAE and in fact India – which will surprise some people – are all fit to come from the red list and come onto the amber list.”
“We will always do whatever is required and you have seen us do this so far with the red list to make sure that countries – even from destinations where there are a lot of people – would go on that red list if that is what is required.”
But doing what is required was bad news for up to 6,000 British tourists in Mexico. Robin and Viv Silverthorne, of Worthing, Sussex, were flying to Cancun yesterday when they found out the country was being put on the red list.
They decided to come home to avoid paying for quarantine. Robin told the BBC: “We have paid £8,000 for a day trip to Mexico.”
British Airways said its teams had been “working through the night to arrange additional seats out of Mexico to help get people
Ayo said: “I found out the travel restrictions had changed the minute I was able to connect to wi-fi at the airport.
“I went into a state of panic and tried to locate other Brits to see whether they knew and what their plan of action was.
“You could see the look of confusion, fear and regret all in their faces.”
Ayo works from home and had planned to do so on her return, but won’t be able to in quarantine. She said: “How are (the Government) planning to help individuals who have found themselves in this situation? Leaving the UK thinking their country of destination was safe, to then land and find out they better return ASAP.”
Aaron, who did not wish to give his last name, is due to relocate his wife and their newborn son to Edinburgh this month.
His wife, from Sinaloa, had her UK visa approved on July 28 – less than a month after baby Aviv arrived. Aaron, 43, a self-employed data and audiovisual engineer, flew there for the birth and now says he “can’t quantify” how much the quarantining will cost his business.
He said: “I have previously taken out a bounce-back loan to keep my business afloat.
“I have no idea why I should have to pay to isolate when I’ve had both vaccinations in Edinburgh, proof of vaccination, took a test on my way here and will take one on arrival in Scotland.”