Johnson told foreign holidays essential to economic recovery

The cross-party letter, signed by former cabinet minister Karen Bradley as well as chair of the government’s transport committee Huw Merriman and ex-aviation minister Paul Maynard, detailed the value of tourism, travel and aviation to the economy, the Daily Mail reports.

It comes after Johnson, speaking at the government’s latest Covid briefing on Monday (29 March), promised the travel industry an update on the work of the Global Travel Taskforce by 5 April.

The taskforce, which is exploring how international travel can resume safely and robustly from 17 May "at the very earliest", is due to publish its findings in full on 12 April.

In their letter, the MPs said it was "paramount that the restart of international travel provides the opportunity for businesses in the aviation, travel and tourism industries to begin their long journey back to recovery".