England to Reopen Doors to Double-Vaccinated Tourists from EU and US

Strategic Insights -

Boris Johnson is expected to approve the reopening of England's doors to double-vaccinated tourists from the EU and the US, with Whitehall officials stating that ministers, led by Chancellor Rishi Sunak, have pushed the prime minister to act, arguing that it is safe to start readmitting foreign tourists if they have received two jabs, without the need for quarantine. The decision has been made easier by falling coronavirus case numbers in the UK, as well as the introduction of digital health passes by the EU. Tourist centers such as London are expected to benefit from the move, as they risk losing out to destinations like Paris and Rome, which have already opened up to American tourists.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UK government is expected to approve the reopening of England's doors to double-vaccinated tourists from the EU and the US, with a possible effect from next week.
  • Ministers, led by Chancellor Rishi Sunak, have pushed for the reopening, arguing that it is safe to readmit foreign tourists without quarantine.
  • Arrivals from the EU and US will be required to take a predeparture test and a test on day two of their stay.
  • The decision is contingent on passengers providing proof of vaccination, with the US system being paper-based and organized at a state level.
  • Airlines expect to be asked to check passengers' documentation at check-in and have been conducting trials to facilitate the reopening of transatlantic travel.
  • The UK's inbound tourism sector is the fifth largest export industry, generating £28.4bn in export earnings in 2019.
  • Companies across the sector have welcomed the news but warned that more red tape needs to be cut for businesses to recover.
  • Joss Croft, head of trade body UKinbound, stated that until a specific date is announced, tourism businesses cannot book, suggesting that time is running out for the sector.

Statistics:

  • £28.4bn: The value of the UK's inbound tourism sector in export earnings in 2019.
  • 2019: The year in which the UK's inbound tourism sector generated £28.4bn in export earnings.
  • Delta variant: The more transmissible variant of the coronavirus that has led to ongoing travel bans and restrictions.

Sources:

  • The White House: Reported on Monday that the US would maintain its COVID travel bans for the foreseeable future on a range of countries, including the UK, EU, and China.
  • UK Government: Expected to approve the reopening of England's doors to double-vaccinated tourists from the EU and US, with a possible effect from next week.
  • Joss Croft, UKinbound: Stated that until a specific date is announced, tourism businesses cannot book, suggesting that time is running out for the sector.
  • UK Government: Reported that the UK's inbound tourism sector is the fifth largest export industry, generating £28.4bn in export earnings in 2019.