London, UK: “WTTC is relieved that thousands of British holidaymakers can now at long last go on holiday to Portugal thanks to the country finally being removed from the UK government’s quarantine list.
“This news is a welcome shot in the arm for the fragile Travel & Tourism sector – both in the UK and Portugal. We hope it will also go some way to restoring the confidence of consumers to travel in safety again and enjoy a late summer holiday away.
“But many more holidaymakers will be hugely disappointed that if they go to Austria, Croatia, and Trinidad & Tobago it will mean they face having to quarantine for 14-days on their return. It just creates more uncertainty for the Travel & Tourism sector when they can least afford it.
“With countries moving so quickly on and off the quarantine list, in response to changing coronavirus rates, it shows now more than ever how important it is that we have strong international coordination and a comprehensive programme of testing for anyone who wants to travel either for business or leisure. Only a rapid, reliable and affording testing regime will help stop COVID-19 in its tracks and save the three million Travel & Tourism jobs at risk in the UK alone.”