I defer on travel (and life) to my hero Billy Connolly which is why I think he would subscribe to my Holidos and Don’ts A United approach.
The Big Yin avows that anyone who shows any inclination in being a politician should immediately be banned from office.
Our immediate Travel future lies in the vice-like hands of two such people.
UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
And neither are going down a bundle with our Travel providers.
The experts
Joanne Dooey, President of the Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association.
And Jo White, who runs the UK and Irish Media Press Office for the Irish Travel Fair, IPW.
Over to the experts then on where we lie.
The old Shapps club
Jo Dooey takes aim at Shapps and the Scottish Government in equal measure.
She says: ‘It would be churlish not to say that any moves towards the reopening of travel regulations are welcome.
“However, Scottish travel agents and travellers still need to know that Scotland will swiftly follow suit.
‘We continue to raise the question of travel certification and how Scotland will deliver a scheme to allow the public to provide proof of vaccination status in order to fly to other countries.
“Currently English travellers can use the NHS app to prove their certification status.
“And this integrates with the EU Digital COVID Certificate (EUDCC) which gives digital proof of a traveller’s vaccination, testing and recovered from COVID-19 status.
‘The Scottish Government needs, as a matter of urgency, to tell us what stage, if any, the development of a Scottish app is at.
“Currently, Scots who wish to travel, have to apply for a paper certificate.
“And we need to be operating at the same level as the other countries which have developed and are already using this technology.
One price for one…
‘While Scotlnd faces more expensive testing that in other UK nations, we persist in lobbying for the cost of testing to be at least equitable across the UK.
‘However, we look at it, 2021 has followed 2020 as a second catastrophic year for our industry.
“And the news last week that TUI has withdrawn from its Scottish base [a favourite tour provider],
“And also is cancelling a raft of holidays to some of the most popular holiday destinations up to 31 July only supports this view.
‘Travel agents have been forced to remain open for 16 months now to help their clients rebook – sometimes for the sixth or seventh time – yet are still receiving no income.
‘There is little, if any, customer confidence in travel at the moment.
“And the whole sector needs the Scottish Government to get behind a restart to international travel and boost the Scottish economy.
‘If the Prime Minister’s strategy is, from 19 July, to remove legal curbs on people’s behaviour.
“And to end restrictions and allowing people to make their own decisions, then surely people should be allowed to travel internationally with more choice.
“We remain in consultation with the Scottish Government to outline the way forward for Scottish travel.
“And the role testing and vaccination certification will play in this.”
Meanwhile in America
And for those of us for whom our annual conference with our American Travel partners is key.
To driving business this is also a major concern.
As is the slow progress of opening up the US borders which is key to our travel providers.
And those for whom America is their favoured destination.
While talk that they are being selective too about those who have had the AstraZeneca jab.
And with continued confusion about quarantine.
Well, over to you Joe Biden. No hidin’…
Prove us all wrong and Billy Connolly who might say, they’re all a load of old jobbies…
What I WILL say is.. follow my Holidos and Don’ts A United approach.
