Overly cautious approach leading to restart in name only
Commenting on speculation that summer holidays are under threat as a result of new variants, Henry Smith MP, Chair of the APPG for the Future of Aviation Group said:
“After a devastating year for our aviation, travel and tourism industries this will come as a hammer blow to an industry that is close to breaking point . Far from benefitting from a vaccine dividend this reinforces that our overly cautious approach to international travel is a restart in name only.
“We must ensure that we avoid a summer shutdown that will cause irreversible damage to businesses and communities who rely on international travel. The restart of international travel is about more than summer holidays, it is an essential part of our economic recovery and our ambitions for a truly global Britain and our current overly cautious approach will hold back our recovery.
“With our aviation, travel and tourism industries on their knees it is essential that the Government put in place measures that take into account the effectiveness of our vaccine programme to reopen travel safely as is being done throughout Europe and to provide significant financial and employment support to the many businesses who will be left facing a precarious future as a result of our overly cautious approach. “