London – Britain’s Finance Minister Rishi Sunak has pressed for an easing of travel restrictions to offer respite to the tourism sector amid concerns that the nation is not reaping the benefit of its vaccination programme, the Sunday Times reported.
Sunak had written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson warning of the impact that Britain’s strict border controls had been having ahead a gathering of ministers on Thursday to consider changes, the newspaper mentioned, citing a source familiar with the letter.
The Treasury declined to comment.
England last month lifted the requirement for fully vaccinated Britons returning from medium-risk nations to have to quarantine. Visitors from the EU and United States with the same status will also be exempt from Monday.
However, travellers still have to take expensive tests before departure and shortly after arrival.
Individually, the bosses of Britain’s biggest airlines and travel companies urged Transport Minister Grant Shapps to add more nations to the “green list” that have fewer restrictions.
They mentioned green status should increasingly become a default, given that nearly 90% of British adults had been given one vaccine and more than 70% had two, and domestic restrictions had eased.
“On this basis, there is no reason why, and it’s essential, that much of Europe including the key volume markets, the U.S., Caribbean and other main markets, cannot flip green next week in time for the remainder of the summer peak,” bosses of Virgin Atlantic, EasyJet, British Airways, Jet2.com, Loganair, Ryanair and TUI UK & Ireland mentioned in a letter shared with media.
They mentioned a continued requirement for expensive COVID-19 tests would have a huge impact on aviation.
“We’ve got seen no proof that this regime is important for fully vaccinated travellers or those from Green nations, or that effective, cheaper rapid tests can’t be used from higher-risk destinations,” they mentioned.