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August 2020 Travel News 16 Contents
3. Northern Ireland Relaxes Travel Quarantine Rules: Quarantine-free travel list published
4. Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme Launched: Scheme will aid passengers with hidden disabilities
5. Six New Routes for Belfast City Airport: Belfast City Airport secures six new routes to UK
7. Belfast Harbour Posts Solid Annual results: Sound financial performance for 2019
9. 70% of Palma’s Hotels to Reopen: Most to reopen by end of August 2020
11. It Feels Good to be Back! Guinness Storehouse reopens iconic gates
12-13. Living the Barbados Life: Your questions answered about the birthplace of rum!
18-19. Latest Cruise News: Local tour operator blasts FCO cruise ban
22-23. Local Updates: Embrace Northern Irelands giant staycation spirit
News Extra
Local Travel Industry Says Government U-Turn on Travel to Spain has Industry “On Its Knees”
T
HE local travel industry have blasted the government’s abrupt u-turn on quarantine-free travel to Spain and its islands as “disappointing” and
“confusing”.
Calling for clarity, Sandra Corkin of Oasis Travel said: “A very disappointing decision given the fact that the outbreak in Spain is localised, and confusing as it includes the canary islands and Balearics which the Spanish government claim are safe.” Echoing Sandra’s sentiments, Trevor Ardies of
Rosetta Travel said: “We’re hoping the Spanish Islands will be reviewed separately, but it would need to be done quickly before any more damage is done.” Peter McMinn of Northern Ireland’s leading tour operator Travel Solutions said: “The travel industry is on its knees and poor communication by the Executive and by Westminster is creating further financial hurt to an industry that employs thousands in Northern Ireland. “As recent as Thursday past, our First Minster was
praising the clarity on the relaxation rules, and two days later her Minster issued conflicting guidance that will cost jobs in the industry and will mean that many consumers will lose money, both in the cost of
FOREIGN Secretary Dominic Raab said the government will not apologise to holidaymakers affected when the quarantine-free air bridge with Spain was revoked – holidaymakers returning from Spain will now have to self-isolate for 14 days.
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The government announced on Saturday that holidaymakers who had not returned from Spain and its islands by midnight would have to quarantine for 14 days on their return.
The sudden timing of the announcement has been heavily criticised by the travel industry and consumer rights groups however, the Foreign Secretary has defended the “swift” action. He told Sky News’ On Sunday programme: “The data we got was on the
their holiday, but also in lost wages when they have to quarantine on their refunds from Spain.” Peter continued: “The local outbound travel industry needs government help and if the executive can’t manage guidance then we need to see financial help to ensure mass closures and redundancies are avoided.” Terry Murphy of Terra Travel said: “Just when we thought a little bit of normality had arrived, we were hit with the latest whammy requiring all arrivals from Spain (including the Canary and Balearic Islands) to quarantine for 14 days. The government advice also changed to avoid all but essential travel to the Spanish mainland. “In a way, the move was not entirely unexpected, with
Spain putting out mixed messages, firstly confirming new clusters of Covid 19 particularly in North Eastern Spain but indicating that these were under control. Alongside these announcements Spanish authorities were warning that a second wave of the virus could not be ruled out.
“There has been criticism of Westminster for its lack of warning of the quarantine imposition, but presumably stung by previous allegations of not acting
Friday, it showed a big jump right across mainland Spain. That was then assessed yesterday afternoon and we took the decision as swiftly as we could. “And we can’t make apologies for doing so. We must be able to take swift, decisive action, particularly in relation to localised, or internationally in relation to Spain or a particular country, where we see we must take action. “I understand it is disruptive for those going through this who are in Spain or have been considering going but we must though be able to take swift, decisive action to protect the UK, otherwise we risk reinfection into the UK, potentially a second wave here and then another lockdown.
“So, yes, I understand it is disruptive
quickly enough, the Government was determined not to caught out again. “The major concern of both the travel trade and the general travelling public is the inclusion of both the Canary and Balearic Islands in the quarantine. “Both sets of islands have had a relatively low
infection and death rate from the virus and the same is still the case. There is currently widespread pressure, not least from the Tourist authorities in both sets of islands, on the UK Government to exclude them from the quarantine. “Such a move would be widely welcomed by the travel trade and people who have already booked a holiday to one of the islands in question. Much more so by those already on holiday in one of the areas affected by the new regulation.”
Claire Mulligan of Clubworld Travel said: “I think the quarantine requirement should have been more regionally focused. The majority of the Spanish mainland and especially the Balearic and Canary Islands have infection rates well below the UK average. Hopefully there can be an amendment to allow for quarantine free travel to and from the safer areas.”
Government WON’T Apologise to Holidaymakers Affected by Decision to Revoke Spain Travel Corridor Government Warns
for those going through this who are in Spain or have been considering going but we must though be able to take swift, decisive action to protect the UK, because we’ve made such progress in getting the virus down, and prevent the virus retaking hold in the UK.” “We expect employers to show those employees who will have to quarantine because of the law the flexibility they need. If someone is following the law in relation to quarantine and self-isolating the way they should, they can’t have penalties taken against them.” Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is currently in Spain for his summer break and will join thousands of others in being forced to self-isolate for a fortnight on his return.
Holidaymakers to Make Sure Passport is Up to Date
THE UK Government has urged travellers to check that their passport is up to date as it deals with a backlog of 400,000 passport applications following Covid-19. The Home Office department Her Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO) says that social distancing rules have meant that fewer staff are able to work. HMPO confirmed that 126,000 applications are currently being processed, while another 284,000 are in the queue.
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