The TSSA union has condemned the government’s latest quarantine measures, for travellers returning from France, the Netherlands and Malta, as “utterly shambolic”.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps announced in a tweet late on Thursday (13 August) that six destinations have had their quarantine-free travel corridors revoked – France, Malta, the Netherlands, Monaco, Turks & Caicos, and Aruba.
Arrivals from all six destinations will have to self-isolate for 14 days upon their return to the UK from 4am on Saturday (15 August).
The Foreign Office is also advising against all but essential travel to the six countries. Anyone already in the destinations need not return to the UK immediately.
Data shows we need to remove France, the Netherlands, Monaco, Malta, Turks & Caicos & Aruba from our list of #coronavirus Travel Corridors to keep infection rates DOWN. If you arrive in the UK after 0400 Saturday from these destinations, you will need to self-isolate for 14 days.
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) August 13, 2020
The TSSA, which represents travel sector staff, gave its backing to the #SaveTravel campaign last week – urging sector specific support for the industry.
Leader Manuel Cortes said the way government had adopted its quarantine policy “has at times been utterly shambolic”, saying Downing Street’s messaging on the issue “leaves an awful lot to be desired”.
“Most importantly, Rishi Sunak’s ‘one-size-fits-all support’ policies for businesses and workers are causing great harm to our travel industry,” he added.
“Travel companies can’t go back to business as usual until the public are confident that they can take a holiday with absolute certainty that it won’t be disrupted by the need to quarantine.
“Even at this late hour is still not too late for the government to put in place a bespoke support package which stops our members losing their jobs whether they work in travel shops in or high-street, foreign exchange or Eurostar.”