Operators have warned that the modest additions to the UK government’s green list for international travel will not be enough for the industry to trade out of the pandemic.
But agencies have welcomed the addition of Canada, which is due to reopen its borders on September 7 to vaccinated Britons, as well as six additional European destinations.
As well as the seven green list additions yesterday evening, Thailand and Montenegro were added to the government’s red list.
Martyn Sumners, executive director of Aito, which represents hundreds of specialist tour operators, said: “The latest traffic light update is once again very underwhelming.
“When is the government going to understand that the travel industry continues to suffer through no fault of its own?
“While adding seven destinations to the green list and not moving any to amber has to be seen as a plus, adding countries like Liechtenstein is hardly worthy of note.
“Thankfully the most popular European countries haven’t been moved to red. Adding Canada as a long-haul destination has to be a modest positive, but removing Thailand means South Asia is now out of bounds.
He added: “Very disappointing that Africa and South America remain off limits, too, despite cases being lower than in the UK.
“The industry needs to be allowed to trade out of the pandemic and, if the government is going to continue to restrict our ability to trade, then it must support us financially.
“Without support past the end of September, businesses will continue to fail; neither tour operators nor travel agents can survive on fresh air. How can companies be expected to borrow money or pay back loans when they don’t know where the next pound is coming from?
“The loser in the end will be the customer; less competition means higher prices. And the British economy will also suffer to the tune of £billions if travel is left to wither.
All-inclusive resort operator Club Med said the modest additions to the green list meant the UK has been “left behind” the rest of Europe in terms of international travel.
Estelle Giraudeau, managing director for the UK and Northern Europe, said: “Another government travel announcement and another devastating blow to the UK travel industry.
“We, like many other travel businesses, rely on these announcements to bring us hope that we won’t lose the rest of the season.
“While Europe has continued to move forward with restriction-free movement throughout summer, the UK has been left behind by keeping popular destinations like Turkey on the red list, despite their cases per million being lower than in the UK.”
Giraudeau said Club Med’s web traffic to its Turkey page increased by 20% in the leadup up to the announcement, when Turkey has said it expected to be moved off the red list.
“It is clear there is still a huge appetite among Brits for this incredibly popular destination,” she said.
Addressing the long-haul market, Giraudeau said the Maldives and the Dominican Republic remaining on the red list, was “yet another blow to the travel industry’s recovery”, “despite their case numbers per million being a fraction of those in the UK”.
She added: “As we look forward to the next announcement in three weeks, we once again urge the government to apply more logic to its travel decisions.”
But homeworking agency group Not Just Travel, and Flight Centre, both welcomed the addition of Canada to the green list.
Steve Witt, co-founder of Not Just Travel, said: “A slow and steady return to travel is the best way and this is proving to be a very good route to recovery.
“Three weeks ago we saw a strong increase in sales boosted by consumer confidence in the government’s continued easing of restrictions. Countries where no change occurred still saw an increase in sales as it gave customers reassurance to book.
“We can expect to see the same after these new changes. Canada is a firm favourite of UK customers, but we expect to see a strong increase in bookings to previously undiscovered countries such as Lithuania (one of my personal favourites).
“Obviously we still have to check entry requirements into each country, but the growing safe list of green and amber destinations is really helping boost the recovery of the travel industry and we are already seeing a frenzy of activity from both travel consultants and customers.”
Steve Norris, managing director of Flight Centre EMEA, said: “Canada consistently sits among our top four most-popular destinations for British tourists at Flight Centre, so we’re naturally excited to be able to send holidaymakers back to the famously beautiful country from September 7, when Canada reopens its doors once more for double vaccinated Brits.
“Furthermore, we’re hopeful that the addition of Canada to the green list will pave the way for the much-anticipated agreement with the US over the coming weeks, provided that the Delta variant is brought under control.
But Norris called for a reduction in the price of PCR tests, which are still required for all holidaymakers in varying capacities, depending on their destination’s traffic light status. A government review on the traffic light system is due by October 1.
“With the majority of British summertime favourites, such as Spain, France, and Greece, on the amber list, we fully hope and expect the extortionate price of PCR tests to reduce throughout September, ahead of the October half term.
“We believe in accessible travel, not just for our holidays, but to visit much loved family and friends, and Flight Centre wholeheartedly believes that the ongoing competition in PCR pricing must be stopped if we are to achieve this.”