The UK's travel traffic light system should be abolished with any changes "too little, too late," to save the summer for holidays abroad.
The World Travel & Tourism Council ( WTTC ) has called upon the UK government to abandon the confusing and damaging traffic light system and replace it with a simpler and easier to understand list of green and red countries.
While travel expert Simon Calder told Talk Radio the latest review was "too little, too late" to help the be-leagued travel industry this summer following updates to the traffic light system.
WTTC, which represents the global private Travel & Tourism sector, says moves to banish the controversial system would, at a stroke, simplify a system which has become steadily discredited over recent months.
Virginia Messina, WTTC senior vice president and acting CEO, said: “It’s time the government removed the ambiguity by abandoning the confusing and damaging traffic light system and replacing it with a simple system of green and red categories and clear rules for the vaccinated and unvaccinated, so travellers know exactly where they stand.
“While the rhetoric has changed to a more positive note, what we need is action. We need to provide clarity across the UK Travel & Tourism sector, which has been crying out for the present highly unpredictable system to be dropped, having brought international travel from the UK to its knees.
“The UK should now open its doors not just to fully vaccinated travellers from the US and the EU, but to double-jabbed visitors from all over the world too – showing we’re open for business and ready to welcome all safe travellers.”
WTTC says the government needs to significantly widen the green list so fully-vaccinated UK citizens can travel safely and the country can welcome leisure and business travellers alike.
Returning UK visitors also need the day two PCR test to be replaced with an easy-to-use antigen test, like in other countries, with PCR tests only reserved for those testing positive.
The WTTC boss responded to the latest traffic light system update, adding: "The entire UK travel and tourism sector, the many thousands of British travellers already in France, and those with future plans, will be breathing a sigh of relief now that returning fully jabbed Brits won’t need to quarantine, and that the confusing and disruptive amber plus list has been effectively abandoned.
“However, the requirement for fully-jabbed UK travellers to take expensive PCT tests will still deter many from travelling.
“We are disappointed that more destinations were not added to the green list. But the additions of India, Bahrain, Qatar, and in particular the UAE – a major winter sun destination – will provide a massive boost to Travel & Tourism businesses over the coming months.
“Once again, we call on the US government to open its borders to fully vaccinated UK visitors, a move that would have a massive economic benefit both here in the UK and across the Atlantic.”
Bosses at holiday booking sites also voiced their opinions.
Timothy Davis, co-Founder and CEO of Butter, commented: “This complex and painstaking process is bringing further turmoil to a travel and tourism sector that can do little else but stand and watch as another summer of restrictions prevents a return to health.”
Co-founder of hoo, Adrian Murdock, added: “The unfortunate reality of the shambolic traffic light system is that any good news that comes via the latest review could well be the latest government u-turn come the next.
"As a result, holidaymakers remain deterred from travelling and we’re simply not seeing any notable degree of stability return to the sector. Many are now resigned to the fact that we face another year of holidays at home and while Britain isn’t a bad backup plan, it remains bitterly disappointing for those who had hoped of getting away.”
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