The travel and hospitality industry has lashed out at the UK
government’s decision to implement a 14-day quarantine period for international
travellers, saying the measure will cause sever economic harm and slow the
industry’s recovery as Europe prepares to enter the peak summer season.
The rule, which will come into force on 8 June, requires all
incoming international travellers to fill in an online form before they travel
to provide the government with their journey and contact details, including the
address where they will carry out their self-isolation period. During those 14
days, travellers will not be allowed to leave their accommodation except for
emergencies and Border Force agents will carry out spot checks. Anyone found
breaching their quarantine faces a £1,000 fixed penalty notice or potential
prosecution and an unlimited fine.
Contrary to prime minister Boris Johnson’s initial
announcement of the incoming quarantine measures on 10 May, the rule will apply
to travellers using all modes of transport – plane, train, bus and ferry – and not
just those arriving by air. The rule will also apply to those arriving from
France despite an earlier announcement that the countries were working on a
bilateral agreement to create an exception. Only people arriving from Ireland,
the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, as well as road haulage and freight
workers, medical professionals travelling for work and seasonal agricultural
workers who will self-isolate on the property where they are working will be
exempt.
Announcing details of the rules last week, home secretary
Priti Patel said the measure will be reviewed three weeks. The government is
also considering other options moving forward, such as “air bridges” between
countries that have low transmission rates and enforce similar screening
measures for passengers.
The news, although expected, has been heavily criticised by
the UK travel industry, with Clive Wratten, chief executive of the Business
Travel Association (BTA), saying: “The quarantine measures will cause enormous
damage to an economy struggling to get back on its feet. Business travel would
normally contribute £600 million a day to the UK GDP and quarantine will put
the brakes on this vital economic enabler. It also threatens the survival of
many companies in the business travel supply chain employing thousands of
people whom British businesses rely on to arrange trips that enable them to
trade.
“Public health and safety is of course paramount, but there
are better ways to achieve this than a quarantine. The BTA is calling for the
introduction of globally consistent guidelines on contact tracing, social
distancing, the use of masks and other hygiene measures which protect the
end-to-end journey and make business travel possible. We urge the government to
engage with the business travel sector to make this vital measure a reality.”
Karen Dee, CEO of the Airport Operators Association,
commented: “We are disappointed that the government has decided to go ahead
with a simplistic, blanket approach to quarantining all arrivals without any
consultation with industry. This threatens to have very serious economic and
social consequences, not just in aviation but in all sectors relying on
aviation connectivity, without resulting in notably better public health
outcomes than a more targeted approach. This must be reviewed more frequently
than every three weeks.
“Airlines will be reluctant to fly if there is limited to no
demand as a result of quarantine restrictions, hampering the travel of those
key workers who have now been exempted.
“As our neighbours and key trading partners move towards a
science-led, risk-based approach, the UK should do so as soon as possible or
risk being left behind. Industry proposals such as air bridges would facilitate
travel from low-risk countries and protect the public from high-risk arrivals.
This would enable the restart of aviation and support the UK’s economic
recovery. Crucially, this also would give us time to get a testing regime in
place for arriving passengers like Greece, Iceland and other countries are
doing, as the next step to returning to a new normal.
“In the meantime, the chancellor needs to provide further
financial and business support to airports and travel operators to help the
industry get through this prolonged period with limited to no revenue and ensure
the sector is ready to restart in support of the UK economic recovery.”
Meanwhile, UKinbound CEO Joss Croft said: “Imposing a 14-day
quarantine on international arrivals is another blow to the UK’s struggling
tourism and hospitality industry – worth £28 billion per year. It’s imperative
that this policy is implemented for as short a time as possible. While the
highest priority for businesses across the industry continues to be the health
and safety of customers and staff, we implore government to fully explore all
options available such as air bridges and extensive testing so that
international tourists can return as safely as possible. If the 14-day
quarantine measures need to be in place longer term, our industry will need
significant and extended support.”