From 4am Tuesday (7 December), travellers will need to take either an antigen or PCR test up to 48 hours before departing for the UK. The move comes amid increased concern over the Omicron variant.

After the announcement, an Abta spokesperson said the re-introduction of pre-departure testing "will be a huge blow to travellers and an already devastated travel industry", which, according to the association, has been the "hardest hit" sector throughout the pandemic. 

"While we have always been clear that public health must be the priority at this time, the government must now step up to save jobs and businesses," they continued. 

Abta called on chancellor Rishi Sunak to provide financial support for the sector and consider the reintroduction of furlough for the industry to avoid further job losses. 

Joanne Dooey, president of The Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association (SPAA), said the news was an "early Christmas present none of us in the travel sector wanted or needed".

"It’s a crushing blow for the travel sector in Scotland and travel agents are truly battle weary," she added.

"The confidence which was returning to international travel will be stamped out following this announcement. 

“We expect that travel agents’ phones will be ringing off the hook with customers who wish to cancel or postpone their holidays, business trips and Christmas visits to families overseas."

Chief executive of the Advantage Travel Partnership Julia Lo Bue-Said took to Twitter and said the industry is "once again at the mercy of a government that cannot seem to communicate with each other."

"Yesterday (Friday, 3 December) Grant Shapps assured no pre-departure tests that risk killing off the travel sector, tonight (Saturday, 4 December) his fellow cabinet member fires what will be a fatal bullet for many travel agents."

General secretary of Balpa Martin Chalk supported the government’s "desire to protect the population" through data-led measures, but highlighted advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO) which claimed that "blanket travel bans will not prevent the spread" of the variant, and instead place a "heavy burden on lives and livelihoods."
 
“Travel rules have been tightened twice in less than a week," Chalk added.

"The new costs and stress of travel seem designed to destroy confidence in air travel and the idea of families being confident in booking to reunite over the holidays, many for the first time since Covid, is now a cruel joke."

Clive Wratten, chief executive of the Business Travel Association (BTA), described the sudden announcement as a "hammer blow" to the business travel industry.

He also claimed the move contradicted transport secretary Grant Shapps, who said he "did not want to kill off the travel industry" by reintroducing pre-departure tests on Friday (3 December), just one day before health secretary Sajid Javid reintroduced the mandate.

"Public safety is a priority, but, businesses will fail, travellers will be stranded and livelihoods devastated by the lack of coherent plans from government," Wratten added.
 
"Today, travel as a whole is the only sector currently facing operating restrictions in the UK, and this must be acknowledged, and support provided by the government."

Lisa Henning, managing director of The Inspire Group, said travel is being "treated completely unfairly", as people aren’t required to complete Covid tests prior to attending sporting events, concerts, parties or eating out in restaurants.  

“This is another massively disappointing government update and a further blow to the industry, coming less than 24 hours after Grant Shapps ruled out pre-arrival tests," she added.
 
"I strongly believe, more than ever, we have a case for sector specific support and hope that as an industry we now upscale our lobbying efforts."

Alistair Rowland, chief executive of long-haul tour operator Blue Bay Travel and chairman of Abta, said pre-departure tests "raise a red flag" for holidaymakers who are worried about getting stuck in resort if they test positive.

"That said, we are in a much better position than we were this time last year, with the majority of the UK now double-jabbed and with the booster programme being ramped up," he added.

"Our hope is that, after scientists have had time to study Omicron and the effectiveness of the vaccine against this variant, the government will be able to loosen restrictions on testing and travel as speedily as they enforced them and holidaymakers will regain their confidence to get away, particularly as we approach the January peak holiday booking period."