Rumoured plans to demand restrictions on those entering the country would be a disaster for the industry, says Steve Endacott
Many UK newspapers are reporting that the government intends to introduce a 14-day self-isolation rule for anybody entering the UK as one of the measures to allow us to come out of lockdown.
Does this effectively ban Brits going on overseas holidays this summer? I am sad to say that in effect it does.
Few holidaymakers will want to take a further two weeks off work for every holiday they take overseas and instead will prefer to holiday in the UK without this draconian extra cost on their time.
If the speculation is true, why is the government planning to introduce this now, after allowing unrestricted access to the UK during the initial outbreak period?
This remains a mystery, but it could be it fears that pent-up demand could see millions of Brits jetting off on holiday, thereby potentially increasing the chance of a second wave of coronavirus infections caused by the close proximity of aircraft travel and holiday hotels.
The industry has already put forward possible measures, such as leaving the middle seat of aircraft free and spacing sun loungers, but it is hard to see how social distancing can be effectively policed without comprehensive co-operation from the public.
For an industry eager to get back to work this represents an unmitigated disaster, as it will kill fledgling demand dead.
However, the few surveys that newspapers have completed seem to show that the UK public support such a measure, as they regard the risk presented by coronavirus as sufficient to justify giving up an overseas holiday for a year.
To be honest, it’s hard to argue, much as I would love to do so.
