No one is going anywhere before Government lifts travel ban, experts warn

Summer holidays to the likes of Madeira remain off the cards - istock
Summer holidays to the likes of Madeira remain off the cards - istock

There is no point in arguing over the UK’s quarantine policy so long as there is no end in sight to the Foreign Office travel ban.

This is the view of a growing number of travel experts as controversy rumbles on over the Government’s plan to ask all international arrivals to self-isolate for 14 days from June 8.

“The Foreign Office advice is to best protect its citizens, and until that advice changes no one is going anywhere,” said Lloyd Figgins, international risk expert and chairman of the Trip Group.

“This is why when airlines say they are going to be putting on flights in July, it’s not helpful as the Foreign Office advice is still against all but essential travel.

The Foreign Office (FCO) first advised against all but essential travel in March as coronavirus spread throughout the world, and then amended its guidance to an “indefinite” travel ban in April. It has given no indication as to when that ban will be lifted; anyone who travelled against the advice would find their insurance invalidated, while the restrictions also mean the majority of tour operators will cancel upcoming trips.

The Foreign Office now faces a mammoth task of amending a blanket ban to guidance based on individual nations. Figgins said each nation must be assessed on its infection rates, ability to contain and cope with the virus, and its healthcare infrastructure.

“It would very remiss of the Government to change that advice until they have solid scientific advice that British citizens are safe to travel overseas,” he said.

As the UK struggles to bring down its own R infection rate, Figgins said the first places to open up to UK travellers “will be the first countries who will be willing to accept British travellers”.

John Bevan, the chief executive of dnata Travel Group, a group of UK-based travel brands, has written to the Government asking for more detail on the Foreing Office ban.

“The guidance effectively delegitimises overseas travel and, more than the 14-day quarantine, undermines any real hope that demand can start to return,” he said.

“Our customers tell us that while they are ready and willing to book and travel from this summer, they are nervous to do so while this FCO advice remains in place out of fear of being stranded in the event of a resurgence in the virus. Customer confidence is being undermined, irrespective of whether it is proportionate for a particular destination.”

He said he no longer believed the Foreign Office was acting properly within its remit with a blanket ban on travel.

“Many destinations that are very popular with British holidaymakers, including Spain, Greece, Portugal and Thailand, are reporting that they will lift restrictions and welcome inbound tourists from early July,” he said.

“We are ready and able to make that possible for them with our products and services, but for as long as the current blanket FCO advice remains, our ability to do so is being made immeasurably harder.”

Bevan pointed out that most travel businesses operate on a 28-day cancellation cycle, which means that operators are beginning to cancel July holidays, without knowing whether the Foreign Office is planning to change its advice.

“This means holidays that could be taken will have to be cancelled, even though the destinations they are going to are opening, and the customers due to take them are ready to travel – through no fault of ourselves, the destinations or the customer,” he said.

The Government is due to announce more details about its quarantine plans and has hinted that “air bridge” agreements with certain countries could be in place by the end of June, allowing for unrestricted travel.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph today, home secretary Priti Patel said the Government owes it to the victims of coronavirus to introduce a quarantine.