Article by: Denis Sheehan
Today’s Front Page The Daily TelegraphAny chance of reopening your hospitality business on ‘Freedom Day’, as the PM christened it, was squandered by government not placing India on the travel red list sooner.
As India endured being ravaged by the world’s worst outbreak of Covid-19, travel between India and the UK remained open, not even requiring travellers to take hotel quarantine measures. Read that last sentence back again and let it sink in. This was while one in every four cases worldwide was in India.
While travel between the UK and India remained unhindered, the Indian Delta variant B.1.617 accepted the invitation from government to jump on a plane and come to the UK. As the travel doors were about to close, extra flights were then quickly arranged to allow as much additional travel as possible.
B.1.617 took full advantage of all of the opportunities provided to enter the UK, settled in, and is now firmly established as the dominant Covid variant.
It seems that the accelerating spread of transmission of B.1.617 now leaves government with only one decision, how long to delay the reopening of society, and your hospitality business, fully.
No trade deal with India has been announced to reward government with the PR they so craved, and if it does materialise, the cost will far outweigh any benefit.
News from the hospitality and catering industry is also being featured extensively in our Facebook and twitter social media accounts with the opportunity to engage with others in hospitality and share your views.
Hospitality & Catering News: Delay to hospitality’s ‘Freedom Day’ entirely due to open door travel policy with India. – 12 June 2021 – Delay to hospitality’s ‘Freedom Day’ entirely due to open door travel policy with India.
Copyright: All content in Hospitality & Catering News is protected by copyright