Industry reacts as confusion mounts over 1 Jan EU travel ban

AITO has spoken of its ‘despair’ amid mounting industry concern that UK travellers could be barred from EU countries from 1 January.

With hopes of a Brexit deal receding, the prospect of Brits being frozen out of a Europe-wide Covid safety travel agreement are increasing.

Only a handful of non-EU countries with low coronavirus rates are exempt from rules that prohibit non-essential visitors from outside the EU and European Economic Area (EEA).

Without a deal, the UK is in danger of joining the list of countries on the ‘no entry’ list when the transition period ends.

AITO Deputy Chairman Derek Moore said the fears would further hinder the ‘resuscitation of the beleaguered travel industry’.

ABTA, meanwhile, hinted that individual countries would be reluctant to turn away lucrative UK travellers, while the World Travel and Tourism Council said the uncertainty ‘helped no one’.

The Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association also waded in, denouncing the familiar ‘confusion and lack of clarity’ surrounding Brexit.

Moore described the government as resembling a ‘mad house’ and urged ministers to end the uncertainty and strike a deal with European leaders.

"Quite frankly, we despair," he said. "AITO’s 220 specialist holiday companies and travel agents would normally sell a considerable amount of holidays within Europe across the six months from April to October.

"Having had no income now for over 12 months, the prospect of the booking famine continuing and customer confidence being hit yet again is, quite honestly, devastating, on top of the key issue of FCDO (Foreign Office) Advice needing urgent attention to regionalise travel advice in a sensible way."

He urged the Government to ‘grit its teeth and agree a deal with the EU’.

"Those who voted for Brexit definitely did not vote for an end to their beloved holidays in Europe," Moore said.

"Boris can get hold of free holidays in the Caribbean, but most of us can’t afford to travel long haul or are too concerned about the environment/carbon emissions to do so.

"If the travel industry cannot operate into Europe, flight routes won’t be in place to bring visitors to the UK; the UK economy will suffer twice over. 

"There is simply no joined-up thinking by Government, and no consultation with the travel industry. Our Government unfortunately currently resembles Bedlam – a mad house."

But ABTA suggested individual EU countries would make their own decisions.

"The EU has sought to adopt a common approach to travel restrictions, but this is only a recommendation and individual countries are able to implement their own measures, including options like travel corridors and testing," a spokesperson said.

"It is too early to say what restrictions might be in place on 1 January, given the uncertain nature of the pandemic, but we know that UK travellers are hugely important to a number of EU destinations, including some winter-sun favourites like the Canary Islands and Madeira."

SPAA President Joanne Dooey said the industry needed clarity, with some reports suggesting there could be a Europe-wide ban while others believe countries will be free to decide for themselves.

"As with many issues surrounding Brexit, there remains confusion and a lack of clarity around what travel will look like post 1 January, especially as there is no exit deal in place yet," she said. 

The World Travel and Tourism Council called on EU countries to ‘work together’ to end the impasse and insisted UK travellers should be given the freedom to move around Europe.

"With lower infection rates than much of the EU, there are compelling reasons why the UK should be added to the EU’s ‘safe travel’ list, to enable international travel to continue," WTTC President and Chief Executive Gloria Guevara said.

"British travellers are a major contributor to European economies, and vice versa. UK visitor numbers make up the biggest proportion of inbound travellers to many major EU countries, such as Spain, Portugal and Cyprus.

"While WTTC welcomes maintaining basic air connectivity in the event of a no-deal, six months is not enough for airlines, travel agents and travel companies up and down the country to plan for the all-important summer holiday season, upon which so many jobs depend."

Suffocating international travel would be counterproductive and benefits no one, she said.

"We should be building stronger ties to support mutual economic growth and more opportunities for the already struggling Travel & Tourism sector, which has been hammered by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic."

By Steve Jones, Contributing Editor (UK)