How ironic and frustrating, therefore, that his government’s approach to overseas travel is the absolute opposite.
The crude approach adopted for travel to Spain and Portugal is a disgrace and will cost the jobs of thousands of travel workers, both here in the UK and abroad.
In Spain, there have been upsurges in coronavirus infection in Aragon, Catalonia and Navarra.
And yet, despite our representations, government policy is to advise against travel to all parts of Spain, including the Balearics and the Canaries – Tenerife is more than 2,500km from Barcelona, almost the same distance as London to Moscow.
The government’s travel policy is totally shambolic.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics figures show Britain had more excess deaths during the first half of the year than anywhere on the continent.
You will be safer in the Canaries, the Balearics or Madeira than in Greater Manchester, Leicester or Wrexham.
Ministers have been justifiably criticised for their failure to impose travel bans at the height of the pandemic.
Back in March and April, we were still allowing 15,000 people a day to enter the UK, including travellers from the US, China and Italy. We didn’t even ask them to self-isolate.
This time, it seems ministers are determined not to make the same mistake again, but they are clearly over-reacting.
It is in no one’s interest to revoke quarantine-free corridors with just six hours’ notice.
Thankfully, it looks as if there may be grounds for optimism with the recent announcement two on-the-spot tests that can detect coronavirus within 90 minutes are to be rolled out across Britain this autumn.
New testing machines are already operating in eight London hospitals, and these new LamPORE tests can process up to 15,000 samples a day – they could be used for all UK arrivals.
ITT is calling for a dedicated testing regime to be implemented as soon as possible across all UK airports and ports, in addition to a more sensible targeted and regional approach from government.
Steven Freudmann is chair of the Institute of Travel and Tourism, and a signatory of TTG’s #SaveTravel campaign letter to the government.
