Global Travel Taskforce Must Not Ignore Industry Future

TSSA General Secretary, Manuel Cortes, has urged the Government to act over the future of the travel trade and not "kick badly needed decisions into the long grass" after the Government announced what it described as a Global Travel Taskforce.

Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, said the ‘taskforce’ was aimed at implementing a testing regime to reduce the self-isolation period for travellers arriving in the UK, along with other measures to enable travel during the pandemic.

Currently, anyone arriving in the UK from certain countries overseas must self-isolate for 14 days.

Responding, transport and travel union boss Cortes said: “Sadly the quarantine regime has been clear as mud from its inception.

“However, our union welcomes anything which might provide travellers with clarity while at the same time assisting public confidence. We really hope the setting up of this so –called Global Travel Taskforce is not a route by which Ministers are able to kick badly needed decisions about our travel trade into the long grass.

“Far too many travel businesses have already gone to the wall and many of our members have lost their jobs. This may be a step in the right direction, but our travel industry requires proper long-term support if it is to get through this crisis.

“The Government could help by appointing a dedicated Minister for Travel, so that we have someone to champion our industry day in day out.”