Travel chief: Axe ‘traffic lights’

THE travel traffic light system needs to be scrapped and politicians must end the ‘fear factor’, according to industry leaders.

The Scottish Passenger Agents Association (SPAA) issued a plea for people to be encouraged to resume foreign travel.

It called for the current traffic light approach to end, with countries instead only rated ‘green’ or ‘red’ based on whether they are safe to travel to or not.

Bosses also called for people returning from safe countries to no longer need to take tests.

SPAA president Joanne Dooey said: ‘The complicated traffic light system needs to be scrapped. We should have just two colours – red for the real areas of risk and green. But green should mean green, with no testing for fully vaccinated travellers.

‘The fear factor driven by people in power needs to stop. We need to get Scotland back to business with safety protocols in place which are simple.’

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘The international travel restrictions play a significant role in safeguarding public health and the regulations are reviewed regularly.’