Industry sources have slammed the lack of detail in the government’s latest announcement on travel, and the way in which it was communicated, for “disrespecting” the industry.
The Department for Transport [DfT] promised to lift quarantine restrictions for vaccinated travellers to amber destinations “later in the summer”.
One source dismissed it as “political grandstanding”, arguing: “It’s a step forward made to look more significant than it is.”
However, the source suggested: “UK nationals can be confident of something being in place soon.”
A second source accused the government of “disrespecting” the industry, with transport secretary Grant Shapps initially issuing details on Twitter.
The DfT subsequently confirmed the government’s “intention” that “later in the summer”, fully-vaccinated arrivals from amber list countries “won’t have to quarantine”, “starting with UK residents [who] will still be required to take a pre-departure test and a [PCR] test on day two”.
Guidance against travel to amber destinations will be removed at that point, with “further detail set out next month” including the rules to apply to children and those unvaccinated and the dates the changes come into effect.
The government first has to decide whether to vaccinate under-18s and whether “regular testing” offers an alternative to quarantine for children.
Shapps also added Malta, Madeira, the Balearics and several Caribbean islands to the green list from Wednesday. However, all apart from Malta joined the green watchlist.
A senior industry source said: “We’re disappointed at the lack of detail. We’ve asked when we can expect more. ‘Later in the summer’ shouldn’t mean September.
“You’ll still need tests for amber destinations. Is that also for green? The next review is due at the end of July. We hope that won’t be when we get the detail.
“We hope they’ll engage with us, but the DfT is at arm’s length with the industry since the Portugal decision. The communications [on this] were truly awful. Ideally, you’d have an industry briefing before the announcement, but they couldn’t even ensure a press release went out before a tweet by Shapps. It’s disrespectful to the sector. An announcement like this sends call centres crazy.”
A second source said: “The Caribbean additions are welcome, but confidence in the leisure market isn’t there with the green watchlist and what happened with Portugal.
“We welcome vaccination recognition coming, but they should be able to provide more detail given the work the industry has done. With what they have in place now with the NHS App they could do it almost immediately if the will was there.”
One senior industry figure suggested the resignation of former health secretary Matt Hancock at the weekend could speed up the reopening process, saying: “We know Hancock was a block.”
A second source agreed: “Working with a new health secretary might make a difference. Sajid Javid has said he wants to get things moving. He understands the economic impacts.”
A DfT spokesman told Travel Weekly: “We’ve heard nothing on the date [when there will be more detail], but we imagine it will be towards the end of July.”