Greece has offered to waive its 14-day coronavirus quarantine for British tourists and holiday firms are planning to restart flights from mid June in what could be a welcome boost for beleaguered lockdown Britain.
With the Mediterranean nation’s under-pressure economy heavily dependent on holidaymakers it has been making plans to refill deserted beaches and hotels.
The country’s tourism minister, Harry Theoharis said that it would waive its requirement for visitors if the same was done for Greeks arriving in the UK, speaking to the BBC.
It came as ministers mull coronavirus ‘air bridges’ to allow travellers to move between countries without the need for quarantine once the outbreak is under control.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said a ‘blanket’ 14-day quarantine rule for arrivals will be introduced from next month.
But he disclosed that there are ‘active discussions’ going on over what countries could be exempted from the regime in future, referring to the idea of ‘air bridges’ – usually used to refer to military flights over enemy territory.
Countries with lower infection levels, such as Australia, New Zealand and Greece, could potentially be excluded from the tough rules, which will be enforced by law.
Tui, the largest travel firm in the UK has said it will restart holidays from June 14, with numbers ramped up from July – subject to travel restrictions being relaxed.
In further good news for holidaymakers, a senior minister revealed UK campsites could be allowed to reopen from July.
Asked about camping, Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey told Sky: ‘Having come from Suffolk down to London, I know there are a lot of campsites that are very keen for people to come.
‘Some of this is being carefully considered, recognising that we have a reduced outdoor transmission risk, that things like camping may well become suitable.
With the Mediterranean nation’s under-pressure economy heavily dependent on holidaymakers it has been making plans to refill deserted beaches and hotels in popular tourist areas like Corfu (pictured)
Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey told Sky: ‘Recognising that we have a reduced outdoor transmission risk, that things like camping may well become suitable’
‘But that is a decision that still needs to be taken for later this year, potentially in July or even later in the year, recognising that we need to do all we can to keep that R rate below one, the number of infections down, and we need to be careful when we take those steps.’
But pushed by presenter Kay Burley about holidaying in France, she dampened hopes, saying: ‘I know you like your holidays Kay,and quite right too, but I wouldn’t plan any time soon on booking a holiday in the Dordogne.’
Patricia Yates, acting chief executive at Visit Britain, said that the UK tourism industry was facing a £37billion blackhole and said the public needed to be told that a domestic holiday this summer was safe.
She told MPs: ‘You’ve got a collapse of the supply industry as well as collapse of demand and really to get British tourism up and running this summer, and the summer is hugely important, you’re going to need that domestic audience. I think the worrying thing we see is the lack of confidence in the British public about travelling.’
She added: ‘So there’s a real job to be done there, given that it has to be the year of domestic tourism, there’s a real job to be done there in convincing people that it’s socially responsible to travel and enjoy a holiday. And that it’s safe to do so.’
She also told MPs air bridges were an ‘interesting’ idea to get people into the UK with money.
She told the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee: ‘It would be good to choose the countries that were valuable to us for inbound markets.
‘We have an international network, our American regional director is telling us sort of America is ready to go, American business is ready to go.
‘So, possibly, you know, an air bridge between the UK and America might be one that would be valuable to us.’
She said Visit Britain was already looking at stepping up marketing in Ireland, which will be exempt from the quarantine measures regarding international travel.
The most valuable markets are France, Germany, Italy, Spain and America when it comes to possible mutual arrangements such as air bridges with certain countries around quarantine, she said.
But Downing Street poured some lukewarm water on the air bridge idea this morning.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘It’s an option under consideration but not agreed Government policy.’
He added that there had been no talks with the Greek Government on the subject.
Earlier, Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary launched a savage attack on the government’s plans for 14-day quarantine on arrivals to the UK.
The new rules are set dash hopes of summer holidays for most of the summer, as exemptions are largely limited to lorry drivers.
However, Mr O’Leary dismissed claims it will prevent his aim of resuming flights in July, saying he believes the policy is so ‘defective’ and impossible to enforce that the public will merely ignore it.
He insisted the government is ‘making stuff up as they go along’ and face masks are the best way to protect the travelling public – despite many scientists saying they are of limited benefit.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told MPs a ‘blanket’ 14-day quarantine rule for arrivales will be introduced from next month
Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary (file picture) today launched a savage attack on the government’s plans for 14-day quarantine on arrivals to the UK
All arrivals at airports will face 14-day quarantine under the government’s proposals
The latest slides released by the government tonight showing the UK’s coronavirus status
Mr Shapps has insisted quarantine measures from early June will be a ‘blanket situation’ for other countries initially but could be then eased for those with low Covid-19 infection rates.
Huw Merriman, Conservative chairman of the Transport Committee, asked in the Commons: ‘If he will consider air bridges so that those entering the UK from countries where the infection rate is below the rate of one would not be subject to quarantine?
‘This will boost confidence in aviation travel and target safety where it’s most needed.’
Mr Shapps replied: ‘Final details of the quarantine scheme will be released soon, come in early next month.
‘It is the case we should consider further improvements – for example, things like air bridges enabling people from other countries who have themselves achieved lower levels of coronavirus infection to come to the country.
‘So, those are active discussions but will go beyond what will initially be a blanket situation.’
It is understood that hauliers will make up two thirds of those not required to self-isolate for two weeks.
The rest are expected to include people who ‘work supporting national security or critical infrastructure and to meet the UK’s international obligations’, officials said.
Scientists researching coronavirus may also be exempt. Last week Downing Street denied that travellers from France would be excluded, despite previously suggesting that was an option.
Ireland will not be covered by the rules due to the Common Travel Area’s role in the Northern Ireland Peace Process.
But Mr O’Leary told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme the plans are ‘unimplementable, unmanageable and unpoliceable’.
‘People will simply ignore something that is so hopelessly defective… Let’s have some effective measures like face masks,’ he said.
‘All you get back out of the UK government is ”we don’t know”.’
‘It’s laughable that this government can come up with any plans for a quarantine that would be strict and fully enforced…
‘It’s idiotic and it’s un-implementable. You don’t have enough police in the UK.’
He added: ‘Two-week lockdown has no medical or scientific basis to it in any event. If you want to do something that’s effective, wear masks.’
Mr O’Leary said the policy had ‘no credibility’ and predicted that it would be axed by June.
He insisted research had suggested face masks could reduce the risk of Covid-19 infection by 98.5 per cent.
He told Sky News the government is ‘making stuff up as they go along’.
‘I think they are frankly just making stuff up as they go along,’ he said. ‘They are stumbling along grabbing whatever they think will make a headline.
There is no scientific or medical basis for a 14-day isolation for air passengers when you are not applying that equally to London Underground or London commuter train passengers.’
Virgin Atlantic appeared to back Mr O’Leary’s comments and called for a ‘multi-layered approach’ of targeted measures to successfully restart flights.
The statement released today said: ‘The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in a devasting loss of life and livelihood for so many around the world and the UK.
‘The safety and security of our people and our customers is our always our top priority and public health must come first. However, by introducing a mandatory 14 day self-isolation for every single traveller entering the UK, the Government is taking an approach that will likely prevent flights from resuming.
‘We are continually reviewing our flying programme, however with these restrictions, there simply won’t be sufficient demand to warrant flying and we are unlikely to resume passenger services before August at the earliest.
Oliver Dowden said quarantine rules for people travelling to the UK will be enforced by law
Lorry drivers are expected to make up the bulk of people exempted from quarantine rules when travelling to other countries (stock photo)
‘We know that as the Covid-19 crisis subsides, air travel will be a vital enabler of the UK’s economic recovery.
‘Therefore, we are calling for a multi-layered approach of carefully targeted measures, which will allow for a successful restart of international air travel for passengers and businesses, while mitigating health risks.’
The Association of UK Airlines, the trade body for the industry added that if the government does push ahead with the 14-day quarantine plan then strict rolling reviews need to be in place.
A spokesman said: ‘Airlines are not going to operate if people are effectively told not to travel and that is going to do a lot of damage both to our tourism industry and businesses who rely on aviation for their supply chains and exports.
‘If the Government does insist on doing this, with minimal exemptions in place, we need strict rolling reviews to be enforced so that this policy is not in place a second longer than it needs to be.’
Mr Dowden said quarantine rules for people travelling to the UK will be enforced by law.
He told Today: ‘We would look at the relevant enforcement mechanisms just as we have done with other measures.
‘So for example, the measures that we took when we introduced the so-called lockdown – those were underpinned by regulations which had consequences in law, and I’m sure we’ll do the same thing.’
He said there would be ‘very limited’ exemptions to the rules.
John Holland-Kaye, the boss of Heathrow, raised hopes of looser rules yesterday, telling Sky News: ‘If two countries are at very low risk of having transmission within each country, there should be a free flow of passengers.
‘But if a country has very high risk with rising infection rates and poor controls, then there would be very tight controls on anyone accessing the UK from those markets.
Meanwhile, a government adviser has urged ministers to make councils reopen public toilets and car parks, and stop ‘terrorising’ those who want to visit beauty spots.
Professor Robert Dingwall, who sits on the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group, said the risk outdoors was ‘minimal’ and people did not need to be so anxious.
The government eased draconian limits on exercise last week, with Boris Johnson saying the public is free to drive distances and enjoy public spaces as many times a day as they want.
However, tourist boards have joined local authorities in saying visitors should stay away from beauty spots and seaside resorts.
Weston-super-Mare has changed its slogan from ‘Visit Weston’ to ‘Don’t Visit Weston’