Boris Johnson is being warned not to remove the current ban on foreign holidays and risk another lockdown this winter.
The advice is coming from SAGE and other scientific groups as well as opposition politicians.
The caution towards loosening travel restrictions is in part a reaction to growing concerns of third wave infections and lockdowns sweeping across Europe.
The work done in recent months has seen the UK go through the highest levels of infections, hospitalisations, and deaths in January to the lowest rates since September realised over the weekend.
These results have been achieved through the vaccination role out in conjunction with the lockdown, and are being hailed as a great success.
The government’s roadmap at the present states that the earliest date people in England could holiday abroad is 17 May. Scottish and Welsh governments are also working to the same date, with Northern Ireland not setting any date.
A government taskforce is due to report to the PM if and how international travel might be able to resume on 12 April.
Speaking yesterday on the BBC Andrew Marr Show, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said that he had not booked a holiday outside of mainland Britain, adding it would be “premature” to do so while we are “seeing growing variants”.
He was then asked if the current the ban on foreign holidays could be extended, Mr Wallace said: “I think we will play it by ear, I’m not going to rule anything in or anything out.
“I think the first thing is we are not going to do anything that puts at risk this national effort to control this pandemic. All the indications are in the right direction at the moment and let’s take it step by step.”
Scientific advisors to government and opposition politicians are urging the government to be vigilant in maintaining the direction of progress in combating Covid-19 prior to loosening travel restrictions.
Backbench Conservatives, most notably and unsurprisingly the CRG, are encouraging government to loosen all travel restrictions. Deputy Chair of the CRG said: “With so many vulnerable people now vaccinated, people may ask why the restrictions the government is bringing in this coming week are tougher than they were last summer when we didn’t have a vaccine.”
The BBC’s Radio 4’s Today programme earlier today interviewed Professor Andrew Hayward who indicated some foreign travel may be possible saying: “I suspect what we may end up with is some sort of traffic light system.
“Some countries that are no-go areas, for example likely to be South Africa and South America.
“Other areas where there will be more severe restrictions, there will be some combination of vaccine certificates, testing and maybe quarantine, and maybe there will be some low-risk countries that you can go.” The PM liking to try and please most of the people most of the time could like the idea of some scope to travel.
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick on Saturday launched the £56 million ‘Welcome Back’ fund. The fund is to support England’s high streets and coastal towns through reopening, and to boost staycations.
With government scientific advisors counselling against foreign holidays this summer, to avoid risks posed by holidaymakers returning with Covid variants from other countries. The government’s move is clearly to encourage an increase in holidaying in England.
Boris Johnson and his government have produced one ace card throughout the pandemic, the vaccination programme. Giving it up would seem political folly.
The scene looks set for a unique staycation opportunity for hospitality.
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Hospitality & Catering News: Foreign holidays unlikely alongside £56 million government boost for staycations. – 22 March 2021 – Foreign holidays unlikely alongside £56 million government boost for staycations.