Taskforce report 'another hammer blow' for business travel
James ChappleBusiness Travel Association chief Clive Wratten has branded the limited findings of the government’s Global Travel Taskforce "another hammer blow" for the business travel sector.
The taskforce on Friday (9 April) set out plans for a traffic light system to govern the resumption of international travel, as well as the rules for arrivals from Green, Amber and Red destinations.
However, there was widespread criticism of a PCR test requirement for arrivals on day two of their return from a “green” destination, with travel united in agreement this would likely price some people out of travel.
Wratten, meanwhile, said the the report did little to alleviate the very present financial risks to travel businesses, which have been denied sector-specific support.
“Today’s report from the Global Travel Taskforce is yet another hammer blow to the business travel industry,” said Wratten.
“While we welcome the acknowledgement of the importance of business and leisure travel to the UK economy, this theoretical framework provides no more certainty than the prime minister’s brief comments on Monday.”
More on the Global Travel Taskforce report
- Global Travel Taskforce sets out plans to restart travel from May
- Shapps: 'I'm no longer advising people against booking holidays'
- Govt to reveal destinations’ traffic light status ’by early May’
- CAA to be given greater enforcement powers to act on airlines
- Covid testing costs for travellers could be cut under taskforce plans
- Abta welcomes 'ambitious but imperfect' taskforce report
- 'It's the closest thing we've had to an honest and coherent policy on travel'
- 'GTT gives reasons to be positive – but testing costs must come down'
- Jet2.com and Jet2holidays chief Heapy slams 'lack of clarity' in taskforce report
- High price of PCR tests for Covid-19 in UK vs Europe exposed in new study
- Taskforce report 'another hammer blow' for business travel sector
Wratten added the traffic light system was just one component of the measures required to allow travel to recover.
"The traffic light system is something we have long campaigned for," said Wratten.
"However, it is only one piece of the jigsaw if the aviation, business, and leisure travel industries are to survive.
"We urgently ask the government to at the very least maintain the current furlough scheme until September for the entire travel supply chain.
"This will hopefully enable us to contribute to UK plc as soon as it is safe to do so."
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James Chapple
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