WTTC Responds to the UK Government’s New Island Policy

London, United Kingdom, September 9, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / Gloria Guevara, President & CEO WTTC, said: WTTC is encouraged the government is beginning to listen and has now introduced its ‘island policy’. This move appears to show a more strategic approach and signals a change from its previous blanket country-wide approach. We look forward to seeing how this is going to be communicated to holidaymakers.

“However, this is just scratching the surface. We must abandon wholesale ineffective, destructive and costly quarantines – and replace them with rapid, cost-effective testing on departure at airports. The longer we wait, the more the ailing Travel & Tourism sector faces collapse.

“Airport testing on departure and a robust testing and tracing programme, could help revive international business travel, particularly on key routes, such as between London and New York, which links two of the world’s biggest financial hubs.

“Testing, in addition to measures such as social distancing, mask wearing, hand sanitisation, enforced by the airlines, airports and other stakeholders, can reduce risk to a minimum while travelling.

“Unfortunately, the UK has seen community transmission continue to rise, where confusion and lack of enforcement reign about social distancing measures and the wearing of face masks.

“We cannot afford to wait any longer. WTTC has revealed this year a staggering £22bn looks set to be lost from the UK economy due to the disappearance of international travel.

“Public health should remain the priority, however the UK government must shift its  focus to  implement a robust testing scheme at airports to tackle the issue head on to restore confidence to travel, bring stability back to the sector, revive the UK’s flagging economy and save millions of jobs.”