Following Grant Shapps statement on travel protocols during Covid and the ‘simplification’ of them Joss Croft CEO of UKinbound said "The UK’s onerous testing system for international arrivals into England is one of the biggest barriers to recovery of the UK’s fifth largest export industry, inbound tourism, and today’s announcement must therefore be very welcome news.
"However, the devil is in the detail. Which lateral flow providers will international arrivals have to use, will tests purchased outside of the UK, but taken on arrival, be accepted, and what about children under 18? Further clarity is urgently needed.
"The UK also continues to be at a competitive disadvantage, with Europe having no testing requirements for vaccinated arrivals. This will directly impact the UK’s economic recovery."
Thoughts that were echoed by Adam Tyndall of London First who said "Easing some of our travel restrictions is a start, but Government policy still disadvantages international travel. This review was an opportunity to create a real green list: no restrictions on travel from places with low rates of covid and high rates of vaccination. Other countries are showing proper ambition to get back to normal in a safe and manageable way: while we were reviewing, our competitors were reopening.
"Until we bring international travel into line with the domestic system, we are holding back Global Britain. The Government should, from October, allow those returning from abroad to use NHS testing facilities for the remaining Government mandated tests."
