Business owners are being encouraged to contact their local MP to highlight the likely damaging impact of quarantine on the UK economy and travel sector.
Chief executive Steve Byrne said it was time for Travel Counsellors across the UK to call on their MPs to support alternative "sensible and practical solutions" that protect the health, safety and wellbeing of clients while guarding against a second wave of coronavirus infection.
These include ramping up the UK’s test and trace network; pursuing air bridges with countries with lower rates of coronavirus infection; and meeting new global health and safety standards for travel and tourism.
Home secretary Priti Patel set out the UK’s 14-day quarantine plan in the House of Commons on Wednesday (3 June) and confirmed it would come into effect on 8 June for at least and initial three-week period.
However, she also confirmed the Foreign Office was working on bilateral air bridge or safe travel corridor arrangements with other countries. Prime minister Boris Johnson later confirmed at the government daily coronavirus briefing these travel arrangements would form part of the UK’s future Covid strategy.
Travel Counsellors has provided its business owners with a letter to send to their local MP calling on them to help ensure the government’s quarantine policy is scrapped, while also asking ministers to consider the plight of small business owners across the UK.
It states: “A mandatory quarantine on all inbound travellers, which will deter visitors from coming here, make UK travellers think twice about going abroad, and most likely incur reciprocal quarantine measures on British travellers to other countries, will have real consequences for the UK travel sector.”
The letter also advocates a relaxation of the Foreign Office’s current advice against all non-essential travel worldwide, and a greater focus on establishing air bridges.
“We completely agree and understand the health, safety and wellbeing of travellers has been, and remains the most important thing, and we understand and appreciate government measures will be driven by this priority," said Byrne.
“With an effective track and trace system now being put in place, together with confirmation of international air bridges or ’travel corridors’, and enhanced health and safety requirements met by measures instated across the globe, we’re supporting our people to make their voice heard by encouraging their local MPs to see these initiatives as the most sensible and practical solution at this time.
"Above all, we wish to continue to support our customers to make the right choices on travel based on their personal circumstances and preferences, which is where the trusted relationships that Travel Counsellors, and others across the industry, provide really shine through.
"Customers will always remember the advice, support, expertise and care we showed to them throughout this time, and in the future.”
