Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

International travel delays could cost the UK economy €30bn

International travel delays could cost the UK economy €30bn

The UK has just announced its plan for leaving lockdown - but experts are predicting huge losses to the economy if international travel is delayed any longer.

Nearly £27 billion (31.2 billion euros) will be lost from the UK economy if the government delays restarting international travel until May 17, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) says.

The date was set by Prime Minister Boris Johnson when he unveiled the highly anticipated roadmap out of lockdown last week. According to the government’s plan, two households will be able to mix outdoors from March 29 - a date which many believe should also mark the start of international travel.

Allowing journeys overseas just seven weeks earlier, to coincide with the Easter holiday break, could save struggling businesses who rely on travel and tourism, they say. It could also provide a much-needed boost to the economy.

Could vaccines and testing help with international travel?


WTTC fears delaying the revival of international travel for another seven weeks will quicken the collapse of the sector. It contributes 2.3 billion euros annually to the UK economy, and is responsible for almost four million jobs.

While the government’s rapid vaccine rollout has been widely celebrated, the global tourism body has called upon the Prime Minister to give greater clarity about what May 17 will look like. This would enable businesses to prepare for the restart and consumers to book with confidence.

There is a belief that international travel can safely resume with a comprehensive, coordinated regime for testing upon departure and arrival. This should be done alongside the global vaccine rollout, enhanced health and hygiene protocols. One of the most important measures is mandatory mask wearing, which experts say can cut down transmission of the virus by more than 80 per cent.

The introduction of vaccine passports could also support the recovery of the industry. Vaccinations and testing, alongside other precautions, should prevent blanket quarantines and remove the need for potentially confusing air corridors, which could affect people’s confidence in travelling, WTTC claims.

“While the UK government’s announcement that international travel could resume on May 17 gives us grounds for optimism, it will come as cold comfort to struggling travel and tourism businesses up and down the UK,” says Gloria Guevara, WTTC President and CEO.

“It would be far less economically damaging to invest in testing and biometric technology which could safely reopen the doors to travel and save the millions of jobs at risk.

“In the same way widespread community testing is being provided through rapid test kits twice a week to pupils and anyone in their household or support bubbles, so extensive testing will also permit the safe restart of international travel.”

Extra costs for Heathrow passengers


To combat the damage done to the industry in the past 12 months, London’s Heathrow Airport has recently announced plans to introduce additional charges to passengers.

In 2019, the airport handled a record 80.8 million travellers and almost half a million flights throughout the year. But Heathrow has been hit badly by the pandemic. Its main clientele is the long-haul market - a niche that has been wiped out by COVID-19.

Last week, its parent company Heathrow Airport Ltd. reported a 2.3 billion euro loss for 2020 after passenger numbers dropped 73 per cent. The air company claims this loss means it will be unable to provide some services in the future without the levy being added.

“Every day we delay will see many more cash-strapped businesses join the growing list of companies which have already disappeared due to the demise of international travel,” explains Gloria.

She also argues that vaccines should not become a requirement to travel, stating it would discriminate against less advanced countries and younger travellers - or those who simply can’t or choose not to be vaccinated.

“Mask wearing should not be a choice; it has been proven to provide the highest level of protection against transmission of the virus. This, combined with a comprehensive testing regime, enhanced health and hygiene protocols, digital passes and the global rollout of vaccines will allow the safe restart of international travel.”

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
Western Europe Records Hottest June on Record
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
France Requests Airlines to Cut Flights at Paris Airports Amid Planned Air Traffic Controller Strike
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Hungary's Prime Minister Criticizes NATO's Role in Ukraine
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Hungarian Scientist to Conduct 30 Research Experiments on the International Space Station
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
International Astronaut Team Launched to Space Station
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
Oil Prices Set to Surge After US Strikes Iran
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
×