‘Light at the end of a very dark tunnel’: ABTA reacts to travel corridor update
ABTA has welcomed the removal of quarantine restrictions from the Canary Islands, describing it as a ‘light at the end of a very dark tunnel’.
The association said it was pleased the government has taken action ‘after a terrible summer season’.
But it continued its appeal for targeted support for the travel industry which again failed to materialise despite a revamp of the government’s Job Support Scheme.
"After a terrible summer season, the removal of the need to quarantine when returning to the UK from the Canary Islands, the Maldives, Denmark and Mykonos is a bit of light at the end of a very dark tunnel for the travel industry," a spokesperson said.
"We have been highlighting the need to move to a regional approach to quarantine, citing the Canary Islands as a specific example, so it is good to see the Government take action on this today.
"But we must remember that the pandemic brought foreign travel to a standstill and for most companies there has been little or no chance to start a recovery.
"The Chancellor’s update to the Job Support Scheme today, while an improvement, still leaves many travel companies facing difficult decisions around jobs in the weeks ahead."
ABTA again called for tailored support to help companies through the winter.
"It is also vital that the Government seeks to fully regionalise travel corridors and transition away from the current global advisory against all but essential travel by moving back to country specific Foreign Travel Advice," the spokesperson added.
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