The Covid travel traffic light system was blamed by two-thirds of people for their decision not to take an overseas holiday in the past year, new research for WTM London reveals.
Of those who did not travel abroad on holiday in the past 12 months, 66% replied ‘yes’ to the question: ‘Has the traffic light system introduced by the UK government for overseas travel put you off travelling overseas over the last year?’
The traffic light system was hailed as an easy-to-understand way for the government to grade destinations according to Covid statistics, and determine whether or not people entering the UK would have to quarantine.
But there were several instances of destinations being relegated to amber or red, causing chaos among holidaymakers who were often given just 48 or 72 hours to get home, or who had to cancel their plans.
In addition, the government introduced an extra level – the ‘green watch’ list – of destinations in danger of turning to amber.
Respondents told the WTM Industry Report traffic light uncertainty had put them off travelling in the past 12 months.
Among the remaining one in three Britons who did not take a foreign holiday in the past 12 months, some said they just did not feel safe about travelling, according to the poll of 1,000 people.
Those who went abroad for a seven-day break or longer did so despite repeated pleas from government ministers and health advisers not to travel, amid fears Covid could spread further.
More people from London holidayed abroad in the last 12 months than from any other UK region, with 41% saying they had taken an overseas holiday of seven days or more and only 36% saying they had not had a holiday at all.
Those least likely to have taken an overseas holiday were from the north-east, with 63% of people from this region saying they had not had a holiday at all, just 13% saying they’d taken an overseas holiday and 25% taking a staycation.
WTM London exhibition director Simon Press said: “The traffic light system was intended as a simplified version of 2020’s travel corridor system – but in reality, turned out to be just as complicated, perhaps more so.
“Airlines, operators and destinations were constantly dismayed at the lack of countries on the green list and had to act quickly when countries moved up or down the traffic light grades, often at short notice.
“In addition, the traffic-light list is different to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) guidance on travel to a particular destination, so travellers needed to check both.
“To add a further complication, green-list countries aren’t, or weren’t, necessarily open to Brits, so the whole system proved incredibly confusing.
“With the removal of the amber tier, leaving just red and green. It remains to be seen whether this move will instil confidence among Brits who want to travel abroad on holiday.”