UK travel chiefs have slammed the government’s “confusing” guidance on overseas travel and its “demonisation” of travellers and called for urgent clarification.
The heads of the UK’s biggest travel companies, Tui, Jet2 and easyJet, also hit out at ministers over the “guessing game” the traffic light system for categorising destinations has become.
Jet2 and Jet2Holidays chief executive Steve Heapy said: “It’s frustrating to hear ministers say travelling is dangerous when with the right protections in place it is anything but.”
He argued: “The demonisation of overseas travel has been very damaging.”
EasyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren agreed, saying: “Statements that travel is dangerous are misleading. It depends where you travel. That is why the traffic light system has a red category.”
Lundgren argued: “The government has made this into a guessing game. It has made it tremendously difficult for consumers to plan. It has made it difficult for us to plan. What countries should we serve?”
The travel chiefs wrote to prime minister Boris Johnson yesterday urging a government rethink.
They also criticised the disparity between the traffic light categories of countries and Foreign Office (FCDO) advice.
Lundgren said: “We have two lists and one message – don’t travel to an amber country. The government says ‘There is no confusion’. ‘It’s crystal clear’. But you make up your mind.”
Andrew Flintham, managing director of Tui’s northern region which includes the UK, Ireland and the Nordics, said: “We had one list originally, the FCDO advice – the gold standard advice – and that was clear.”
Heapy said: “We have to make decisions based on conflicting information. We just need one message to make life simple for customers who want to know ‘Can I travel or can’t I?’”
Loganair chief executive Jonathan Hinckles added: “The two lists are utterly confusing and detract from the confidence of customers.”
He argued: “Trying to second guess [what will happen with destinations] is akin to pinning a tail on a donkey. We need to remove the conflict between what different government departments are saying.”
However, the travel bosses defended the principle of the traffic light system and the government’s Global Travel Taskforce which came up with it.
MAG group chief executive Charlie Cornish argued: “The taskforce was an important step and there is nothing wrong with the principle of the traffic light system.”
Lundgren agreed: “The taskforce set out a good system. There is nothing wrong with the framework. There was no indication when the traffic light system [came out] that you could not go to an amber destination for a holiday. That came later.”
He insisted: “We’re trying to make sure people can have confidence, can make plans, by offering the most flexible terms. [But] the parameters have to be clear. The rules have to be clear, and that is not happening.
“It comes back to the level of risk. The likelihood is we’re going to have to live with this virus for some time. We want the government to look at international travel through the same lens as opening up the UK.”
Lundgren suggested “there is a very different attitude” elsewhere in Europe, saying: “The attitude I see over there is ‘How can we make travel happen’.”
However, he dismissed the idea of a legal challenge to the government over its restrictions on travel.
He said: “We want a safe restart of travel. I don’t think anyone wants to approach this in a legal way. We want to engage with the government and follow what other countries do. We hope to have constructive discussions with the government.”
Heapy agreed, saying: “Our principle is to try to work with the government, not go head to head with them.”