Ferry firm says holiday ‘ban’ is over-cautious
BRITTANY Ferries has accused transport secretary Grant Shapps of going over the top when he told the nation not to book a holiday.
The French-owned firm, which sails to the continent from Plymouth and Portsmouth, said Mr Shapps’ advice against booking a summer holiday was “disproportionate” and likely to discourage people from taking breaks.
The firm said that making such a statement in February was “unnecessary and over-cautious” and the company highlighted the progress made by vaccination programmes in France and the UK.
Mr Shapps, interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, said it was “too soon” for people to begin booking summer holidays and said: “First of all, I should say, people shouldn’t be booking holidays right now – not domestically or internationally.”
He said Prime Minister Boris Johnson will say more about “unlocking this country” on February 22 but added: “We don’t know yet whether that will include information on things like holidays, simply because we don’t know where we’ll be up to in terms of the decline in cases, deaths, vaccination.
“And not just the vaccination programme here, but the vaccination programme internationally, because people will be going outside of our borders. So it’s too soon.”
Brittany Ferries, whose UK headquarters are in Plymouth, immediately reacted to the statement and called for the Government to put forward a clear strategy and roadmap for an exit from strict travel controls which now mean anyone who has to travel must quarantine for 10 days on returning to the UK having provided a negative Covid test within 72 hours of their journey. Those arriving from a “red list” of 33 countries must also now quarantine in a hotel at a cost of £1,750.
Brittany Ferries has been severely hit by the coronvirus pandemic and UK-imposed quarantines for travellers arriving in the UK from France and Spain. It said has said it is facing the worst crisis in its 47-year existence, and losing cash at a greater rate than following the 2008 financial crisis. It said it recognises the challenges the Government faces in controlling the virus and protecting the health of the nation – which must be its priority – but said Mr Shapps’ comments on Radio 4 were “disproportionate”.
A spokesperson said: “For many listeners the comments may have discouraged any plans for a holiday abroad this summer, just when storm clouds appear to be clearing.
“Vaccine roll-out is moving apace in the UK, thanks to the NHS, volunteers and support of the armed forces. And while countries which Brittany Ferries serves, like France, are a little behind, the ramp-up is gaining significant momentum there too.
“French Health Minister Olivier Véran confirmed that four million people would be vaccinated by the end of February, rising to 43million by the end of June.
“That means around 80% of the French adult population should be vaccinated well ahead of the summer holiday season. In the UK meanwhile, all over-50s are due to receive the vaccine by the end of May.”