‘Booster proof not needed for UK entry’ Ian Taylor


An update of the NHS Covid Pass to provide proof of booster jabs will not be a requirement of entry to the UK, say industry sources. The update was imminent as


Travel Weekly went to press and prime minister Boris Johnson confirmed the government’s intention to “add” booster jabs to the pass on Monday, suggesting those having a third jab will find “foreign travel easier”. The NHS App already records


each jab including the booster – but only creates a certificate and QR code for the first two vaccinations. Parts of Europe are reintroducing restrictions as Covid rates rise and


require evidence, not just of full vaccination, but also a booster. Johnson said: “We’ll be making


plans to add the booster dose to the NHS Covid Pass. We’ll have to adjust our concept of what constitutes a full vaccination.” That led to media reports suggesting travellers who have not had a booster would “no longer be able to avoid quarantine returning to Britain”. Industry sources refute that.


One explained: “The EU updated its Digital Covid Certificate specifications to include the booster and some countries are adding it. [NHS App developer] NHSX is working on this and it should be added in the next one or two weeks in England and Wales. There is no


‘Bigger budgets needed to meet climate targets’


Ian Taylor


Global tourism organisations warned the sector is “pretty far” from reaching its targets on reducing CO2 emissions as the Cop26 climate conference wound up with a declaration that disappointed many island destinations. Last-minute changes saw an


agreement to “phase out” coal and fossil fuel subsidies changed to “phase down”. World Travel & Tourism Council


(WTTC) director of sustainability Christopher Imbsen said: “The sentiment from leaders around the


4 18 NOVEMBER 2021


world is that this is our last chance. Unfortunately, we’re pretty far from reaching targets.” He told an Abta Decarbonising


Tourism webinar: “Travel and tourism contributes 8% to 11% of greenhouse gas emissions.” Dirk Glaesser, sustainable


tourism development director at the UN World Tourism Organisation, said governments and industry have “talked about” measuring emissions “but very little has been implemented”. The WTTC launched a Net Zero


Roadmap for travel last week, but Imbsen acknowledged: “There are insufficient budgets for climate action.”


The definition


of fully vaccinated won’t change until the majority have been offered the booster


timescale for Scotland. “But the definition of fully


vaccinated in Britain won’t change until the majority have been offered the booster. There is nothing imminent there.” A second source said: “It’s too


soon to include the booster as a requirement for entry to the UK. We don’t have enough people triple


vaccinated. It would be a massive step back. But extending the pass to use overseas is sensible. The booster shot is recorded anyway. All it means is creating a certificate out of it. They’re also looking at adding children.” The NHS Pass doesn’t show the


vaccination status of children under 16. However, the issues with children may prove more challenging as the UK only offers under-18s a single dose of vaccine. The first source noted: “The EU


offers two doses to under-18s, and in a number of regions you can’t enter a venue without a double dose. It’s a problem if you go on holiday with teenage children who have to test every time.”


Hewitt: ‘Sustainable aviation fuels are a long way from being zero carbon’


The UK was one of 18


governments to sign up to an International Aviation Climate Ambition Coalition at Cop26, committing to “ambitious actions to reduce aviation CO2 emissions”. But major aviation markets including Germany, Italy, China, India, Brazil and Russia did not join the coalition. The industry Sustainable Aviation


coalition urged “a step change in approach from governments” and easyJet announced it had joined a UN-backed Race to Zero campaign. Chief executive Johan Lundgren said: “We have a responsibility to minimise the impact of our flights.” Yet Cait Hewitt, policy director


at the Aviation Environment Federation, warned: “Politicians seem to be living in a fairytale world where the aviation sector overcomes all the barriers to decarbonisation. “The technologies are scarcely off


the drawing board and sustainable aviation fuels are a long way from being zero carbon.” Abta announced a partnership with


Deloitte to help members decarbonise. Deloitte lead on climate change Emily Cromwell said: “Sustainability is an existential need for your business. The first step is to understand your footprint and how climate change is


going to impact your business.” i Sustainability, pages 38 and 40


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