How nearer are we to getting back on the road following the pronouncements from the British and Scottish governments.?
The answer is no nearer.
Let’s take what Airlines UK are saying.
They are calculating that with no significant 2021 summer Travel there will be a £55.7bn loss in trade and £3bn in tourism GDP.
While no link to the US until September will leave the UK £23m short a day.
All of which will put 574,000 jobs at risk.
The Alpha to Omega of Travel
So our message to the politicians is stop dithering, get the finger out, and put the technology in place to help us to travel.
Because we’re big on Covid passports here.
We will, of course, continue to flag up what other countries are doing… Greece and their policies and the pacesetters Israel.
We’ll continue to take soundings from our friends at the Scottish Passenger Agents Association and are happy to take up their cause.
So it’s over to Joanne Dooey, SPAA President.
She said: ‘The concept of vaccine certificates as proof that you are protected against specific diseases is by no means new.
‘Some wishing to travel to a host of countries including parts of Africa and Central and South America and the Far East already have to do that.
‘And produce an International Certificate of Vaccination to gain entry.
‘As travel agents we’ve never experienced this system being described as divisive, authoritarian or a human rights issue.’
Test, test, test
And yes, like Joanne, we are all about the testing and I was happy to do just that to report on Bergamo last Autumn.
‘Testing will have a role to play in the restart of international travel for at least a 24-month period.
‘The current cost of PCR tests is too high to be affordable for the average family.
‘There is a need for quick, reliable and affordable testing at airports.
‘And we would welcome further research into the different forms of testing than PCR including antigen tests and lateral flow tests.”
Hear, hear.
The oldest and the best
And we here at jimmurty@traveltraveltravel.com will ALWAYS support our dream-makers, our Travel providers.
And a shout-out to the SPAA which was founded in 1921 is celebrating its centenary as the world’s oldest organisation representing travel agents.
It currently has 120 member companies.
All their associated agencies across Scotland including many home workers, and 92 associate members across the travel and transport industry.
