East travel agency concerned lockdown fines will put people off booking holidays
People arriving at airports could face fines of up to ÂŁ5,000
An independent travel agency in the East is concerned lockdown fines will put people off booking future holidays.
From today (29 March) people who go to an airport without a reasonable excuse could face fines of up to ÂŁ5,000 while overseas travel remains banned.
It has been prohibited throughout the current lockdown, with the only exemptions being work, education, moving home, or major family events.
The introduction of fines for people going to an airport, and speculation about permitted locations when restrictions allow, is feared to have added to the uncertainty of people hoping to book holidays.
Julie Croucher, Director of Travel With Jules, thinks the deterrents have been heavily confused over recent weeks.
She said: "People are misunderstanding that this is a new regulation that's going to be brought in for however long in the future. The fact is, at the moment we are still in lockdown and travel for non-essential reasons is not permitted.
"All the Government is saying is, if you travel against lockdown regulations, you will be fined."
While the fines will not apply to any future holidaymakers, as holidays abroad won't return until 17 may at the earliest, there's concern the attention it has received will put people off altogether.
Julie continued: "The only way it fines will affect us is, for that exact reason, people hear the wrong things. It's the same with all the speculation recently about some holidays won't happen or we won't be able to travel to Europe in the summer. It's total speculation, nothing has changed since the initial announcement by the Prime Minister back in February."
The Global Travel Taskforce is expected to report back to Boris Johnson on 12 April with recommendations on a return to international travel, while still managing the risk of coronavirus infection and variants.
A date for the return of holidays abroad will then be determined but will not be any earlier than 17 May, which was originally set out in the February roadmap
According to the Government website, reopening international travel will depend on:
- The global and domestic epidemiological picture
- Prevalence and location of any variants of concern
- Vaccination progress here and abroad
- More knowledge on efficacy of vaccines on variants and their impact.
Julie highlighted that, even when international travel returns, it is not guaranteed what restrictions will be in place in other countries.
While we await more information from 12 April, the independent travel agency revealed there is "a lot of pent up demand" for holidays to places like Lapland and winter-sun locations in the Christmas and New Year period.
What restrictions are easing today?
Larger group gatherings outdoors
From 29th March the "rule of six" will be re introduced alongside the the two household rule.
The "rule of six" means that up to six people from different households can meet outside.
More people will be able gather together if they are only from two households, giving greater flexibility for families and friends. For example, this means that two families of four who live in two households could meet up outside.
"Stay at Home" becomes "Stay Local"
From 29th March, once the school Easter holidays have started, the Government's "Stay at Home" rule will end. However, many restrictions will remain in place and people will still be encouraged to stay local. People should continue to work from home where possible and overseas travel is still not permitted in the vast majority of cases.
Outdoor sports facilities allowed to open
Outdoor sports facilities including golf courses, tennis and basketball courts will be permitted to reopen from 29th March.
Organised sport for adults and children
Meanwhile organised adult and children's sport, such as grassroot football clubs, can also resume from 29th March.
Weddings with six people
Weddings attended by 6 people are allowed from 29th March. The number of guests allowed at weddings will increase as we move further through the roadmap.