Brittany Ferries urges France not to enforce reciprocal quarantine
Brittany Ferries is lobbying French government to avoid the implementation of reciprocal quarantine measures.
In a normal year, the company carries about 2.6 million customers, of which 85 percent are British.
Any move that might dissuade more Brits to cancel their travel plans would hurt Brittany Ferries and the regions it serves, particularly the tourism sector in Brittany and Normandy.
Brittany Ferries Director General Christophe Mathieu said: "This has already been a disastrous summer season for us and all the businesses in north west France that rely on the friendly British invasion each summer.
"It is why we are lobbying hard with our regional colleagues for government to drop reciprocal quarantine plans. If such measures are implemented it would be an exercise in self-harm for France plc, damaging our business, as well as those of thousands of others in the regions we serve."
Brittany Ferries says that, despite quarantine restrictions, many of those that can travel are making an informed decision to do so.
The company has continued to serve Spanish destinations through quarantine over the last three weeks. In that time only 1 in 5 customers has chosen to either cancel or change their holiday plans.
Brittany Ferries says travellers are now aware of Covid-19 risks and are better able to make informed decisions about mitigating against them at home or abroad.
Further obstacles would only serve to dissuade many of those who could travel from doing so the company says.
By Lisa James, Deputy Editor (UK)
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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