‘Don’t expect quarantine changes’ Ian Taylor


Te government was due to review quarantine measures and the potential for a relaxation this week, but sources suggested limited prospects of immediate change. Travel Weekly understands


ministers excluded the industry from discussion of the review amid anger at the extent of leaks and recent media speculation. An aviation source expressed frustration saying “information has dried up” and warned: “Te status quo is most likely.” Croatia was removed from the


restrictions, with a minister warning: “Tere will be restrictive measures decided in the next few days.” An airline source said: “Tere is


Grant Shapps


travel corridors list from Saturday along with Austria and Trinidad and Tobago, but Portugal joined the declining number of quarantine- free destinations. France threatened retaliation for UK quarantine


consternation about the short notice [of changes], but there is not a lot the government can do about that.” Te industry continues to lobby


for Covid tests on arrivals to cut the length of quarantine and regionalised restrictions that could allow the partial opening of markets. Transport secretary Grant


Shapps confirmed the government is considering both, but warned anyone travelling: “Go with your eyes open


because coronavirus is a fact of life.” Te aviation source said: “We


want testing agreed in principle. Te government could lay the ground without testing starting, likewise with regionalisation, but we sense they’re not minded to do that.” Te airline source agreed, saying:


“Tere is a difference between a ministerial decision on testing and starting testing. It’s not something that can be put in place within days. We’re going to be into the winter season before we properly restart.


We’re all extremely worried.” i Business, page 38


Portugal advice is ‘too late’ to boost bookings


Juliet Dennis


Agents say the removal of quarantine restrictions for Portugal has done litle to boost bookings as most clients have given up on the idea of an overseas holiday this summer. Since Saturday, UK visitors to


Portugal have no longer had to quarantine on their return and the Foreign Office no longer advises against all but essential travel. Jet2holidays, which began its


programme on Monday, has added capacity to Portugal. Tui restarts operations there on Friday. While Portugal was added to


4 27 AUGUST 2020 We got four


bookings for Portugal last week; it’s not setting the world alight


the Department for Transport’s quarantine exemption list, tourists returning from Croatia, Austria and Trinidad and Tobago now have to self-isolate for 14 days. Te FCO also advises against non-essential travel to these destinations. Despite price comparison site


icelolly.com seeing an immediate spike in interest in Portugal and


Praia do Camilo, Portugal


Club Med reporting a 173% upturn in bookings for Club Med Da Balaia, high street agents said the change in advice had not translated into bookings. Miles Morgan Travel chairman


Miles Morgan said: “It doesn’t make any difference that Portugal has come on stream or mean that people will now book for October – the [official advice] approach has caused 100% uncertainty.” Spear Travels group managing


director Peter Cookson said the Portugal change was “too litle, too late”, adding: “We got four bookings for Portugal on Friday and Saturday; it’s not seting the world alight.”


Full Circle Travel managing


director Niall Douglas, who took one Portugal booking at the weekend for a couple whose honeymoon had been cancelled, said: “People are more worried about quarantine than coronavirus. Tey don’t want to go away while these measures are in place.” Neil Basnet, director at Holiday


Inspirations, said: “People are saying ‘what’s the point?’ Most have abandoned any idea of going away until next year.” Advantage Travel Partnership


head of business development David Moon said the “bombshell” change in advice for Spain had crippled consumer confidence.


travelweekly.co.uk


PICTURE: Richard Townshend


PICTURE: Shutterstock


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