That was the message to transport secretary Grant Shapps from the business travel sector, with the exemption only likely in its infancy to apply to those cutting substantial deals.
Government guidance states the exemption applies to individuals undertaking business activity "which would deliver a significant benefit to the UK economy".
This, the guidance says, includes activity that creates or preserves in excess of 50 UK jobs. The exemption was announced by Shapps in a tweet on Thursday afternoon (3 December).
Business Travel Association chief executive Clive Wratten said the exemption should go further.
“The announcement that government-selected categories of business travellers returning to the UK are exempt from quarantine is a step in the right direction," he said.
"However, business travel takes many forms and all should be exempt. Engineers, humanitarian workers, retail buyers and many other professionals travelling for work are all crucial to the UK economy.”
The Advantage Travel Partnership, meanwhile, called for greater clarity to ensure its TMC members can maximise any concessions.
"We are delighted to learn business travellers will be exempt from quarantine when returning to England from a country not in a travel corridor," said Advantage in a statement.
"We do, however, urge Grant Shapps to clarify the definition of ‘high-value business travellers’ in order that our TMCs can hit the ground running and advise their clients accordingly.
"Time and again the hospitality industry has been afforded support and flexibility with regards to Covid-19 restrictions not least currently whereby business lunches are permitted.
"It’s about time business travel, worth £220 billion to the UK economy, can also benefit from appropriate flexibility and support from the government to ensure no more time is wasted with regards to recovery.”
‘Travel resuscitation’
Gloria Guevara, president and chief executive of the World Travel and Tourism Council, said the WTTC was supportive of the move.
"WTTC believes this move will bolster business travel and provide a significant boost to the fragile UK economy," said Guevara.
“Last year, international business travel contributed £7.5 billion to the UK economy, which demonstrates how vital it will be to reviving the country’s battered economic fortunes."
Guevara added: “Only yesterday [Wednesday 2 December], WTTC welcomed the latest guidelines from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, which proposed exempting journeys of up to 72-hours from quarantines to restart international business travel.
“WTTC also backs the further study of this initiative, which is currently being actively reviewed by the UK’s Global Travel Taskforce, of which WTTC is a key contributor, as part of a drive to resuscitate travel by the Department for Transport.”
