FORGET ABOUT A SUMMER HOLIDAY ABROAD
Minister dashes dream of sunshine break
MILLIONS of Britons hoping to jet off on a summer holiday once lockdown is lifted saw their dreams dashed yesterday.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said it was ‘just a reality of life’ that breaks abroad are off limits after the Government announced a 14-day quarantine for all international arrivals into Britain.
A travel blueprint by the Greek government signalled that the country was ready to start reopening resorts from June 15.
But while Greece said it would welcome back travellers, Spanish tourism bosses said the international holiday market was ‘effectively dead’ after Spain followed Britain’s lead and introduced its own quarantine.
Asked whether ‘summer was cancelled’, Mr Hancock said: ‘I think that’s likely to be the case. I think social distancing of some kind is going to continue and I think the conclusion from that is that it’s unlikely big, lavish international holidays are going to be possible for this summer.
‘I think that’s just a reality of
life.’ Speaking to ITV’s This Morning programme he said the Government was seeking ‘to reopen some hospitality’ for stay-cations from early July, but that there were no guarantees. It came as:
■ The Chancellor extended the job subsidy scheme until the end of October – but warned firms they would have to start contributing to their employees’ wages from August;
■ Figures revealed 7.5million jobs have been ‘furloughed’, with taxpayers picking up the wage bill at 935,000 firms;
■ The death toll from the virus in Scotland rose by 50 yesterday to 1,912;
■ Mr Hancock said people may not be able to hug new friends until a vaccine for the virus is found;
■ Nicola Sturgeon admitted knowing since March about a Nike conference in Edinburgh suffering an outbreak of Covid-19, but did not tell the public.
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: ‘The situation is incredibly confusing for UK travellers. The 14-day quarantine for people returning into the UK makes it impractical for people to take holidays as the quarantine period is longer than most holidays themselves.
‘I don’t think people will be going to Greece this summer even if they don’t have to quarantine when they get there, it’s just not practical. ‘We need clear guidance.’ At the Downing Street daily briefing last night, Business Secretary Alok Sharma said he recognised Britain’s hospitality industry was struggling, but added: ‘In terms of when we open hospitality businesses, I think what we all understand is that we absolutely want to avoid a second peak.
‘Of course it is very difficult for businesses, but people do recognise we need to continue to do that and if we’re able to do that then of course we will move to a phase where we’re able to open some of those businesses.’
Today in Brussels, EU ministers are set to reveal their ‘roadmap’ for reopening Europe, including to tourism. Ahead of that meeting, a leaked document made clear Athens wants to apply ‘fair treatment’ to all European holidaymakers, including Britons.
Travel to resorts would be subject to testing negative for the virus three days before flying or tourists proving they had recovered from it. But other countries signalled they were less keen to welcome tourists back so soon.
Spain, one of the countries worst hit by the virus, followed Britain by announcing 14-day quarantine measures for all arrivals. It will come into effect on Friday and last until May 24 but is likely be extended.
Andalucia’s Regional Tourism Minister said it meant he has given up on the idea of attracting Britons to the Costa del Sol this year. Juan Marin said: ‘Nobody’s going to come here if they have to spend their holidays stuck in a room for 14 days.’
The European Commission map will say travel bans and quarantine measures should be gradually lifted if ‘developments across Europe continue their current positive trend’.
A leaked version states: ‘Handled correctly, safely, and in a coordinated manner, the months to come could offer Europeans the chance to get some well-needed rest, relaxation and free air, and to catch up with friends and family, in their own Member States or across borders.’
One suggestion for easing restrictions will be asking holidaymakers to take virus tests or health checks before flying.
However, tourists from countries where testing is not readily available could effectively remain banned, also opening up the possibility of deals only between countries who can prove they have the virus under control.
EU officials said banning Britons but allowing Germans to visit resorts in countries was allowed under the rules.
It comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that passengers entering the UK from most countries will have to selfisolate for two weeks, meaning travellers would have to take a whole month off work for a twoweek holiday.
Only tourists returning from Ireland and France would be exempt after a deal was struck with French President Emmanuel Macron.
But Shadow Foreign Secretary Lisa Nandy warned: ‘This raises the very real possibility of people travelling via France to circumvent quarantine measures and in effect creates a backdoor which undermines the quarantine measures other British citizens arriving home will be asked to endure.’
Emma Coulthurst, of holiday website TravelSupermarket said: ‘Holidays abroad look pretty certainly off limits in June. But with uncertainty over the virus, we don’t know what will happen with July and August.’