UK businesses call for clearer travel and trading guidelines in letter to government

Businesses from around the country have written to the UK government to ask for a clearer plan for the easing of travel restrictions.

The letter, which was addressed to the secretaries of state, urged the government to set out a framework for establishing travel corridors between the UK and low-risk countries, a timeline for returning to risk-based travel advice, and a comprehensive approach to health screening for arrivals into the country.

It was co-signed by organisations that represent the travel industry, higher education sector, chambers of commerce and small businesses.

The companies said that a “clear set of risk-based criteria should be set out” so that they could start to plan for a controlled reopening, adding that more than 1.5m jobs in the UK are supported by air transport.

They said: “There are whole sectors of the UK economy – from SMEs to large employers – that simply won’t recover and thrive without international connections: our manufacturers rely on air connections to export goods; our world-class universities get around £6.9bn a year from international students; our tourism industry accounts for more than 7 per cent of the UK economy; and much of our hospitality sector relies on international visitors.

“These are some of the UK’s world-beating businesses, providing jobs and opportunity in every nation and region of the country, and they need urgent clarity on when they will be able to get flying again. […]

“The indefinite and indiscriminate advice not to travel overseas prevents businesses and individuals from being able to plan with confidence.

“Government advice should recognise that whilst Covid-19 has struck every corner of the world, it has not struck evenly.

“We are ready to work with the government to help ensure that the UK not only recovers from the economic effects of Covid-19 but goes on to thrive as a global Britain that delivers prosperity and opportunity for people in every nation and region.”

The government has not yet responded to the letter.

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