FUTURE SPRING FORUM
In partnership with Continued from page 48
Future of Travel: Industry experts outline a range of issues facing the sector ahead Deer added: “It would be
fantastic if we’re able to travel between destinations in similar situations with no restrictions. If the situation changes, you introduce mitigation measures as an alternative to switching the destination off sale. Ideally, we would like a system that has more stability this summer.” Clive Wratten, chief
executive of the Business Travel Association, agreed: “There has to be a multilayered approach because it’s as difficult for the industry as it is for passengers to deal with a sudden on-off. “We’re going to see countries
such as Greece and Cyprus looking at ways you can travel freely if you’ve been vaccinated, but you’re going to need a test if you don’t have a vaccination certificate.” He argued: “It’s important we have bilateral agreements between countries.” The system should not
preclude travel beyond Europe, said Wratten: “There is no reason if you have the criteria in place that any country which fits those criteria can’t be opened up.” Restarting long-haul will partly
depend on developing processes for handling transit passengers. Iata UK and Ireland country
manager Simon McNamara told the forum: “Transit passengers were flagged as an issue by the first taskforce. We need to ensure we’re not excluding people because of restrictions on transiting airside as we saw last year. We expect this to be part of a restart plan.” He argued: “If the roadmap is
to be believed, we’re all dashing back to nightclubs on June 21. I find it hard to believe we’ll not able to travel to France for a business trip if that’s the case.”
Abta’s Deer says FCDO travel advice ‘must be reviewed’
A review of Foreign Office (FCDO) advice will be “critical” to travel’s restart, according to Abta director of industry relations Susan Deer. She told the Travel Weekly
Future of Travel Forum: “We know the FCDO is taking advice on risk assessment from Public Health England. That risk assessment must
46 25 MARCH 2021
Travel leaders rue lack of international coordination
Industry leaders are hoping for greater coordination between the UK and EU and between Westminster and the devolved administrations as travel restarts. Clive Wratten, chief executive
of the Business Travel Association, hit out at the continuing disparity in restrictions between England, Scotland and Wales, saying: “As if the issue isn’t difficult enough, we have the four nations disagreeing and arguing. “It’s incredibly unhelpful. If you’re a consumer sat at home, you would
Nicola Sturgeon
think ‘I’m going to leave [travelling] for the time being’.” He told the Travel Weekly Future
of Travel Forum: “It’s critical for the summer and beyond that there is a unified message and everybody tries to maintain the same level of restrictions across the UK.” Scotland’s first minister Nicola
Sturgeon announced last week that international travel “may well not be possible after” May 17 – the date prime minister Boris Johnson has provisionally set for a restart – while Welsh first minister Mark Drakeford declared the prospect of travel from mid-May “fills me with horror”. Wratten pointed out: “It’s just
crazy. It makes it so hard when you’re fighting to get the message to government; you think you’ve cracked it then realise you still have three other countries to convince.” He insisted: “We have to make the
case to the governments of all four countries that we need a consistent policy. [But] we can’t do anything about the political situation.”
take into account the vaccination programme, which it hasn’t done until now. “We need to see the criteria
and principles behind that risk assessment. We know some of the things have nothing to do with case numbers [in a destination]. They may be to do with hospital capacity and the ability of a country to cope. [But] if people have been vaccinated, should that be taken into account in a risk assessment?” Deer insisted: “It’s critical the
travel advice is reviewed. We know the risk assessment for travel advice
As if the issue isn’t
difficult enough, we have the four [home] nations disagreeing. It’s incredibly unhelpful
Iata UK and Ireland country
manager Simon McNamara agreed: “We’ve had a breakdown of coordination between the four nations in the UK, and that has been frustrating. More than anything, it’s confusing for consumers.” He said: “We continue to push
for coordination. But one thing we’ve learnt over the past 12 months is that multilateralism has failed. “We’ve seen countries resorting to
their own measures.” However, McNamara insisted
international coordination should improve, saying: “The EU has a clear role to play. The UK is hosting the G7 group [in June] and that is a big opportunity.”
Susan Deer
is different to the risk assessment for UK public health. But they’re both based on medical advice from the Joint Biosecurity Centre and Public Health England. They need to run side by side.”
travelweekly.co.uk
PICTURE: Shutterstock
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