Reducing the 14-day quarantine duration to five days brings positivity to the UK Travel and Tourism industry, according to WTTC
The UK government has announced a significant change in its travel quarantine rules, reducing the lockdown period for passengers testing negative on the fifth day to just 5 days. This move, which comes into effect on 15 December, is being hailed as real progress by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).
According to Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, this reduction in quarantine will provide a much-needed boost to the economy and is a step towards reviving international travel. However, the WTTC believes this is only a step forward for leisure travel but won't be enough to resuscitate meaningful business travel.
Research from the 2020 WTTC Economic Impact Report revealed that Travel & Tourism was responsible for one in 10 jobs globally and made a 10.3% contribution to global GDP. For business travel to be significantly aided, WTTC suggests that quarantines need to be reduced further or completely replaced with a comprehensive and internationally recognized test upon departure.
The WTTC Global Summit, an annual event considered the most influential in the Travel & Tourism calendar, will take place in a hybrid format in Cancun, Mexico, from March 23-25, 2021. The event will feature guest speakers such as former US presidents, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.
The WTTC Global Summit aims to lead the Travel & Tourism sector into recovery and restore millions of jobs around the world. To this end, the WTTC supports any viable alternatives to damaging quarantines, such as the oneworld airline alliance trial with British Airways and American Airlines offering free COVID-19 tests.
However, the affordability of the test, which costs between £65 and £120, may be a barrier for some holidaymakers. While this change may bring about the return of some international leisure travel, it is unclear when business travel will return to pre-pandemic levels.
The WTTC Global Summit will include a limited number of delegates attending physically, with many thousands more participating online. The event is hosted by the Government of Quintana Roo. Until a vaccine is widely available, WTTC believes this is the only way to get business travellers moving again.
In conclusion, the reduction of the UK's travel quarantine to 5 days with a test is a step in the right direction for leisure travel. However, for the Travel & Tourism sector to fully recover, more needs to be done to support business travel. The WTTC Global Summit in Cancun, Mexico, next year will be a key event in this recovery, bringing together industry leaders to discuss and implement solutions to revive the sector.
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