BUSINESS NEWS certification requirements for the safe resumption of international travel. Ian Taylor reports


Taskforce sets out steps for international travel


The government’s Global Travel Taskforce plan to restart international travel could see a limited reopening with costly test requirements from May 17 giving way to a broader and less expensive regime from July or August. The taskforce report promises


reviews of the opening regime no later than June 28, July 31 and October 1 and includes a pledge to “work with the travel industry and testing providers to see how we can reduce the cost of travel” including use of cheaper tests. The reviews will look at issues including “self-isolation, managed [hotel] quarantine and proof of vaccination”. The report does not confirm a


resumption of travel from May 17 but promises “further details by early May”. It makes clear restrictions could


change at short notice and warns: “A robust reopening from May 17 at the earliest does not mark a ‘return to normal’. Monitoring and compliance activity will remain. The government is prepared to put the emergency brakes on reopening travel.” In an introduction to the report,


pledges to “work with the devolved administrations to align arrangements wherever possible”, but notes: “Health matters are devolved so decision-making and implementation may differ.” The report makes 14 recommen-


dations. The five key ones are for: O A ‘traffic light’ system of green, amber and red applied to ‘low’,


Grant Shapps


transport secretary Grant Shapps warns: “We cannot allow mass international travel to become a major vector for the introduction into the UK of dangerous Covid-19 variants. Even as we seek to reopen international travel, we cannot rule out future restrictions. This government will act swiftly if the need arises.” The report also makes clear


the regime applies only to England and there could be diverging requirements. The government


Global cruising to restart in line with ‘traffic lights’


The taskforce confirmed plans to “restart international cruises alongside the wider restart of international travel in line with the country’s traffic light system”. This will be “subject to satisfactory evidence


from [the] domestic restart”, scheduled from May 17, which “will be considered at each of the checkpoint reviews” in June, July and October. Much of the work required by the taskforce is already under way. The report notes: “Cruise


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operators will operate in accordance with the UK Chamber of Shipping’s Covid-19 Framework for Cruise. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency will complete a full and expanded inspection of cruise ships operating from domestic ports. “Cruise operators will be required to


‘moderate’ and ‘high-risk’ countries; O A ‘Green Watchlist’ to “identify countries at risk of moving from


green to amber”; O Three review ‘checkpoints’ of measures not later than June 28,


July 31 and October 1; O Certification of Covid-19 status for


tests and “if necessary, vaccines”; O A restart of international cruises under the traffic light system. The report states: “The allocation


of countries will be kept under review, with a particular focus on ‘variants of concern’. The Joint Biosecurity Centre will publish data to support the process. We will introduce a Green Watchlist to help identify the countries at risk of moving from green to amber.”


Report stresses ‘people are free to book holidays’


The government stepped back from ministers’ repeated insistence that it’s “too early to book a summer holiday” in the taskforce report, which acknowledges: “People are, of course, free to book holidays abroad in the summer.” But the report states that “for


the moment, the government must advise there is a continuing risk of disappointment until the picture is clearer”. It also recognises travel


and tourism’s importance, acknowledging: “Many businesses hit hardest by the pandemic directly relate to international travel.” The government pledges


to include international travel in its Tourism Recovery Plan, now due to be published in May, as well as in the aviation and maritime recovery plans due later. It confirms the first of these


in May will include “plans for a world-class marketing campaign to welcome back visitors to the UK as soon as it is safe to do so, and lead-in times for sectors such as business events and school trips”.


work closely with port operators, port health authorities and health protection boards . . . to agree arrangements for the embarkation and disembarkation of passengers. Port calls with embarkation and disembarkation will be managed through controlled tour excursions, supporting passengers to remain in ‘bubbles’.” However, a restart will be subject to “the


signing of a memorandum of understanding between the UK government and industry covering the cost and liabilities of repatriation”. Travel Weekly understands the extent of the


guarantees required from the industry remains a subject of discussion.


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