As per the latest reports, countries such as Brazil, South Africa and India are on the red list, with high infection rates and variants forcing arrivals from these countries to go into hotel quarantine. But other countries with high infection rates are still on the amber list, with some having higher infection rates than red-list countries. This has prompted concerns that the UK government will allow new cases – and variants – to be imported back into the country.
With the government announcing the UK’s green list for travel, whereby UK citizens can fly to only 12 destinations, including Australia, New Zealand and Portugal, Back Heathrow’s Parmjit Dhanda has called for urgent government action to prevent a jobs catastrophe for communities in and around Heathrow and other major airports. Without action on flights, BAME aviation workers face more job insecurity.
Mr Dhanda said: “Last summer a report by Oxford Economics set out forecasts for the impact of reduced activity at Heathrow caused by the pandemic and stated that 62,000 jobs are vulnerable in west London alone. Statistically, there is evidence that many airport workers are from minority communities, not just at Heathrow but at Luton, Birmingham and other airports. We believe this is a major contributing factor to new TUC research which states that unemployment amongst BAME communities has increased at three times the rate of others. Over 25,000 people from ethnic minority communities work at Heathrow and live close to the airport.”
Danda insists that the government must continue to reopen international travel to safe destinations, or areas around our airports will see a sharp increase in unemployment, says the Back Heathrow campaign, which represents over 100,000 people living close to Heathrow. It says those from ethnic minority communities stand to be hardest hit by the struggles facing airlines and airports due to Covid 19, and face being left behind as the government focuses on levelling up in the north.
Covid-19 impact on business
Exploring the developments in the travel industry after the lockdown is eased in the UK and countries on the Green List, Asian Voice tried to get a sense of bookings and how the business will be impacted due to the Indian strain of the Coronavirus in the UK.
Hitesh Mehta, Managing Director - Citibond told Asian Voice, that it has been a tough year for all and in particular the Travel Sector. “We spent the first lockdown cancelling and rebooking holidays and bringing guests back safely from there. It was a mammoth task but our team worked tirelessly to bring our guests back and rebook or refund any that had to be cancelled,” he said.
Mehta further added, “Since then we have continued to assist our clients with booking and rebooking on many occasions as destinations came in and out of travel corridors and restrictions. It has been a year like no other, but we look back on it as having learnt a tremendous amount and one that will hold us in good shape moving forward.”
However, Mehta also stated, “The world of travel has literally shut down. We have had to evolve from making peoples dreams come true to managing their expectations and becoming their advisors. We have been fortunate to keep our whole team in place and maintain the various skillsets and experience to ensure all sections of the business remain focused and our clients continue to receive a seamless service. The Citibond Team has coped so well professionally and personally and I am very proud to call them my team. The current Indian Virus has caused more concerns, but the news that the vaccine is also having a positive impact on these this and other strains gives us more confidence. For the short and medium-term it will be a case of managing clients travels plans around many government guidelines, but as more of the world gets vaccinated, we will see more confidence in people wishing to travel.”
Mehta mentioned that he has many plans in place to navigate through as the new world of travel opens. He said, “The last 12 months have allowed us to take stock. We have continued to work closely with our airline and ground partners around the world. We have many Holidays and Tours in place and as destinations start opening up we will be able to offer our guests even better experiences. We have reinvested in our systems and people too. The way holidays will be booked and enjoyed will be very different and we are confident that we set right for that. We are ready for the World of Travel to open.”
Are we ready to travel?
While countries on the Amber list may see a green light in a couple of days, it is yet to be seen whether South Asians would dare to travel abroad, and what would happen to those who own holiday homes in countries that are now a part of the European Union. While the elderly are vaccinated, the vulnerability towards the virus can’t be ruled out.
Asian Voice’s ardent letter writer and reader, Bhupendra M. Gandhi told the newsweekly that he had his last holiday some six months before lockdown due to the Covid-19 epidemic. He said, “Our last holiday was to the beautiful island of Ibiza with my brother Vinay and his wife Gita who may join us now and then. Spain was our favourite destination, mainland and Balearic Islands in spring and Canary Islands in winter, a real tonic for the ageing, aching bodies and to get away from the dark, gloomy and wet winters!”
Mr Gandhi hasn’t given up on his zeal to travel. He said, “Being retired, we loved last-minute unbelievable bargains widely available on the internet, as well as from our travel agent who has looked after us well, being long-standing clients. So we keep our bags ready and paperwork handy to get away at short notice, three to four times a year!”
Sharing a hard-hitting truth, he also mentioned, “It seems our last holiday is a fading memory, perhaps it could be our last holiday, as due to age and health, the insurance premium would cost more than the holiday, as only a few companies are willing to insure over 75!”
Mr Gandhi added that he is wary of the fact that the virus has affected the BAME community more than indigenous people who are more willing to take the risk while we are more cautious, a waiting game.
- Green list countries: travellers need a negative pre-departure Covid test, and they do not have to isolate at all on their return. They have to take a PCR test on day two after their arrival.
- Amber list countries: travellers arriving from amber list countries need a negative pre-departure Covid test and have to isolate at home for 10 days and get a PCR test on days two and eight. They can still use the test-to-release system on day five, a negative test result meaning they can end their quarantine immediately.
- Red list countries: travellers arriving from red list countries need a negative pre-departure Covid test and have to undergo managed quarantine at a hotel for 10 days that cannot be cut short and get a PCR test on days two and eight.
