Travel firms urge govt to scrap quarantine plans

From 8 June, anyone arriving in the UK by air, sea or rail will be required to self-isolate for 14 days or face a hefty fine; the government says the move is designed to guard against the UK importing a second wave of coronavirus infection.

However, with countries across Europe preparing to ease lockdown measures and reopen their borders and tourism economies in time for summer, the UK travel sector is facing unprecedented operational and economic challenges.

"The very last thing the travel industry needs is a mandatory quarantine imposed on all arriving passengers which will deter foreign visitors from coming here, deter UK visitors from travelling abroad, and most likely cause other countries to impose reciprocal quarantine requirements on British visitors," read the letter, penned by George Morgan-Grenville, founder and chief executive of tour operator and luxury villa specialist Red Savannah.

Signatories include Geoffrey Kent and Manfredi Lefebvre, co-chairs of Abercrombie & Kent Group; Derek Jones, chief executive of Kuoni parent Der Touristik UK; Jennifer Atkinson, chief executive of Inspiring Travel Company; Paul Cleary, managing director of Caribtours; Ted Wake, founder of Kirker Holidays; and Andrew Dunn, chairman of Scott Dunn.