Almost two thirds of British citizens say they would prefer a coronavirus test on arrival in the UK instead of 14-day quarantine, according to a new poll.
Travel consultancy The PC Agency and market research company AudienceNet quizzed 2,139 people in the survey for The Telegraph.
Of the respondents who gave an opinion, the majority (62%) said they would prefer a Covid-19 test on arrival, while 38% would opt for a 14-day quarantine (38%).
Just over half (55%) felt that the returning traveller should pay for a test on arrival, while 45% said the government should foot the bill (45%).
The findings are revealed as Scotland adds Greece to its quarantine list and England considers whether to remove its travel corridor with Portugal. Travellers from Zante arriving in Wales are being asked to self-isolate and get tested for Covid-19.
Just over half (52%) said they would be prepared to pay a minimum of £50 to avoid 14-day quarantine. Of those, well over a third (38%) said they would pay up to £50, with 10% saying they would pay up to £100 and 4% saying they would pay £150.
Furthermore, of those who expressed an opinion, nearly three-quarters (73%) said they would prefer a two-part test, with five days of quarantine in between, rather than the current 14-day quarantine in place.
Paul Charles, chief of The PC Agency, said: “This survey carried out for The Daily Telegraph proves that the British public want to see a change of government policy, as they’d prefer being tested on entry instead of being forced to quarantine for 14 days.
“What’s more is that a two-part test, with a short quarantine period in between each one, would be popular if the government endorsed it.
“If we’re to learn to live with coronavirus then a testing strategy needs to be outlined urgently.”
Agents and operators have repeatedly called for testing in lieu of the rapidly changing quarantine requirements, which are creating widespread consumer uncertainty.
Mike Tibbert, vice-president of the Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association, said: “We’re extremely concerned about the workload that is being put on our travel agent members with each change.
“The removal of Greece in this ongoing hokey cokey of countries which are ‘in or out’ means it is impossible for Scots to plan or reorganise a holiday which they have already paid for. And equally impossible for our members to run a business.”
The Telegraph has launched Test4Travel – a campaign urging the government to introduce affordable Covid-19 tests on arrivals at all UK airports and ports, by Christmas.
