The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) warns that nearly £27 billion will be lost from the UK economy if the government delays restarting international travel until 17 May.
The date was set by Prime Minister Boris Johnson when he unveiled the highly anticipated roadmap out of lockdown last week.
According to the government’s roadmap, two households will be able to mix outdoors from 29 March and WTTC believes this should signal the restart of safe international travel.
Resuming international travel by just seven weeks earlier, to coincide with the Easter holiday break, could save struggling travel & tourism businesses up and down the country and provide a much-needed economic boost to the economy.
WTTC, which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, fears delaying the revival of international travel for another seven weeks, will hasten the further slide into collapse of a sector which contributes £200 billion annually to the UK economy.
It is responsible for almost four million jobs.
The loss of almost £27 billion represents a damaging daily drain to the UK economy of more than £550 million, which can be counted in lost jobs and failed businesses up and down the country, WTTC says.
WTTC has consistently argued that international travel can safely resume with a comprehensive, coordinated international regime for testing upon departure and arrival for travellers.
Testing should be in place alongside the global vaccine rollout, enhanced health and hygiene protocols, and most importantly, mandatory mask wearing, which experts say can cut down transmission of the virus by more than 80%, to safely revive international travel.
Additionally, the introduction of digital health passes or certificates will support the recovery.
Gloria Guevara, WTTC President and CEO, said: "While the UK government’s announcement that international travel could resume on 17 May gives us grounds for optimism, it will come as cold comfort to struggling SMEs and travel & tourism businesses up and down the country.
"Our economic modelling shows the brutal impact the £27 billion loss could have, caused by delaying the restart of international travel by just seven weeks.
"It would be far less economically damaging to invest in testing and biometric technology which could safely reopen the doors to travel and save the millions of jobs at risk."
Source: WTTC PR
