The WTTC said on Wednesday (1 September) the end of furlough combined with Westminster’s failure to sufficiently ease the UK’s travel rules would likely conspire to create a perfect storm for the travel industry come the end of September.
Furlough support will cease at the end of the month, despite it continuing to sustain hundreds of thousands of roles in travel and tourism, according to the WTTC.
The council has also warned that unless the government uses the third and final checkpoint review baked into the traffic light regime, fixed for 1 October, to simplify its border measures and open up travel more widely, the UK faces an economic loss pushing £60 billion.
"Unless travel is opened up significantly by this date [1 October], many more people working in the sector could face losing their jobs due to the ending of government Covid-related support as businesses are forced to let people go," said the WTTC.
The WTTC, based on 2019 pre-pandemic levels of travel, estimates £59.4 billion could be lost from the UK economy if travel remains suppressed during the fourth-quarter.
It is urging the UK government to adopt similar travel policy to that of the UAE, which is welcoming all fully vaccinated travellers – regardless of country of origin – so long as they can provide evidence of a negative test result for Covid-19.
Julia Simpson, WTTC president and chief executive, said: “Vast economic wealth and even more jobs in travel and tourism could be lost in 30 days’ time if significant travel doesn’t resume by the time the furlough scheme ends. Companies are facing a desperate future unless the government supports the sector by introducing sensible controls that build traveller confidence while keeping the UK safe.
"We should allow all fully jabbed citizens and visitors to enter the UK with a negative Covid test. There should be no need for quarantine and excessive, expensive testing requirements."
Simpson added: "The UK government must do everything in its power to protect businesses and jobs in the sector and ensure it doesn’t squander the last quarter of the year. 2021 is in danger of being no better than the last for the travel and tourism sector, despite the incredibly successful vaccine rollout.
"The next 30 days are critical to get travel back on track. That means abandoning the traffic lights system and reducing the current testing regime so that it is simpler and cheaper."
