Covid-19: Thousands head overseas on holiday as rules ease, says an article on BBC.
Back to normal
Thousands of British holidaymakers have begun taking advantage of the easing of lockdown rules on overseas travel.
Travelers from England, Scotland, and Wales are jetting off to some countries in what the crisis-hit tourism industry hopes is the start of a recovery.
Travelers can now visit 12 countries on the government’s green list, including Portugal and Israel, without isolating on their return. The bosses of British Airways and Ryanair said confidence was returning.
The vast majority of tourist destinations remain on the amber and red lists, meaning travelers must quarantine when they get back.
Bookings also remain well down on pre-pandemic levels.
Very busy schedule
However, BA chief executive Sean Doyle told that the airline’s six flights due to depart from Heathrow on Monday to “green” destinations such as Lisbon, Faro, and Madeira were “very busy”.
He said the latest relaxation of restrictions was “a small step in the right direction”.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said there were definite signs of an early rebound in travel to European destinations.
Bookings are up from 500,000 a week in early April to 1.5 million a week now. “The rate of bookings suggests there is a huge amount of confidence,” he told BBC Breakfast. “We are very optimistic for the next couple of months.”
Did you subscribe to our daily newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe!
Source: BBC
