Travel agents in Wales have slated the Welsh government’s policy on testing for international trips, saying it adds costs and confusion.
Welsh residents travelling overseas must use specific NHS PCR tests which cost £88 for one test and £170 for two.
The policy includes travel via airports outside Wales, and travellers can be fined £1,000 for using a private test provider.
However, English residents can choose from a range of private providers and can pay less than £50 per test.
Mark White, managing director of Ocky White Travel in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, said testing is a “nightmare” especially for those in rural communities who have to travel long distances to mandated test centres.
He highlighted one case of a group of clients travelling to Ibiza who had to leave at 5am to reach a test centre 100 miles away in Cardiff, for a Jet2.com package holiday departing from Bristol airport.
“It puts people off, which is what the Welsh government wants; it is a major hurdle,” he said.
“Business is a fraction of usual; confidence has been destroyed.
“However bad it is in England, it is twice as bad in Wales.”
He said agents are still waiting for an official announcement from the devolved government about amber list arrivals, following announcements by prime minister Boris Johnson and transport secretary Grant Shapps last week.
Fully-vaccinated travellers will no longer have to self-isolate on arrival into England from amber list countries from July 19. The next review of Covid rules in Wales is due on Wednesday.
“Mark Drakeford [Welsh first minister] does not want people to travel; it is a subtle destruction of the travel industry,” said White.
Simon Morgan, director of Blue Skies Travel and Flamingo Holidays, agreed, saying: “The Welsh government actively discourages travel, but does not offer sector-specific subsidies.
“Welsh people watch the national news and see Boris and think they can go away.
“Drakeford may come out with something else five or seven days later. He is ultra-cautious; we are not a united kingdom.
“The Welsh must take these tests, irrespective of the airport, and pay through the nose.
“These are very trying times.”
Retired agent Mary Baldwin travelled to Spain from Wales and was “furious” she did not have the same choices as English travellers.
“We were horrified to learn that, as returning UK citizens who happen to live in Wales, the Welsh government will only allow you to purchase your PCR tests through one company – CTM (Corporate Travel Management) – charging £170 per person for two tests and £88 for one test,” she said.
She is lobbying politicians to highlight the problem and urges travellers to use high street travel agents “who will guide them through all the forms and formalities and indeed sort out any subsequent issues”.
Baldwin also highlighted how the same problem is faced by travellers in Scotland.