UK inbound tourism industry warns it’s being “neglected” by govt in latest travel announcement
Businesses have warned the UK’s inbound tourism industry is “on the brink” after the government announced more changes to travel rules this morning.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps updated the UK’s travel rules so that fully vaccinated Brits will not need to quarantine on return from amber list countries from 19 July, when the majority of other coronavirus restrictions are eased.
But trade bodies have called for twice vaccinated international travellers to be subject to the same rules as Brits of the same status, so that businesses that benefit from inbound tourism have a chance to recover from the pandemic visitor drought.
UK Inbound, which represents Britain’s domestic tourism trade, said the decision was the “final nail in the coffin” for the UK’s inbound visitor economy, which was “neglected and forgotten” by the government. It estimated the UK will lose out on £70m a day in exports as long as tourist restrictions remained in place.
“The UK’s fifth largest export sector is dying on its knees, and the government must provide more support, including furlough extension and targeted grants, whilst rapidly implementing vaccination certification reciprocity for inbound, as it has done for outbound,” said chief executive Joss Croft.
Central London’s West End is one of the biggest contributors to the UK economy, but the lack of tourists during the pandemic has seen footfall plummet and tourism income diminish.
Jace Tyrrell, chief executive of the New West End Company which represents 600 businesses on Oxford St, Bond St, Regent St and in Mayfair, said “the West End cannot return to its thriving former self without overseas visitors.”
“It is frustrating that so little clarity has been given around plans to welcome visitors back to our shores and high streets.”
Meanwhile, the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) said the “amber list” announcement was “welcome news” for the aviation and travel sector, as well as business across London that rely on international business travel.
But the group urged the government to go further to ensure a safe return to normal inbound visitor levels.
“The UK’s, particularly London’s, economic recovery also depends on the return of international visitor spend. It’s vital that the government and the aviation sector now swiftly work together to install systems that allow for the safe return of inbound international tourism and business travel,” said chief executive Richard Burge.
Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss echoed this sentiment and urged the government to implement a further relaxation of testing requirements for fully vaccinated passengers of all nationalities arriving into the UK from “green” and “amber” list destinations – from 31st July.
“This approach is consistent with that taken by the US and the EU to fully vaccinated passengers, and will pave the way to restart of the essential Transatlantic travel corridor, without which £23m is lost each day from the UK economy,” Weiss said.
Under the new rules, from 19 July Brits will need to take two tests – one before returning to the UK, and another PCR test on the second day after returning.
The need for a test on day eight and the rule to isolate for 10 days will no longer apply.