COVID-19 Update 8th June 2021

• New Entry Restrictions for France

The travel advice for France has been updated to take into account of new testing requirements that the French Government are introducing on 9^th June for people travelling from the UK. From this date, people will be able to take a PCR test within 72 hours of departure, or an antigen test within 48 hours of departure. There will be random antigen testing for unvaccinated arrivals.

Those that are fully vaccinated will need to have proof of a negative PCR test within 72 hours of departure, or an antigen test within 48 hours of departure. However, they will not need to justify an essential reason for travel or to self-isolate on arrival. The French Government recognises the following vaccines: Pfizer, Moderna, Oxford/AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson (the vaccines recognised by the European Medical Agency).

“Fully vaccinated” is defined by the completion of a vaccination schedule, specifically:

• 2 weeks after the second dose of Pfizer, Moderna, Oxford/AstraZeneca
• 4 weeks after the single and only dose of Johnson & Johnson
• 2 weeks after the single dose of any of the above vaccines if you have previously tested positive for COVID-19

Children under the age of 18 years old, who are travelling with fully vaccinated adults, will be exempt from requirements to self-isolate and provide an essential reason for travel, regardless of whether the minor has been vaccinated or not.

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france/entry-requirements

• Travel Industry Day of Action

Trade bodies from across the aviation and travel industries are coming together for a travel industry day of action (#traveldayofaction) on 23 June to put pressure on the UK Government to support a safe return to international travel in time for the peak summer period.

The day of action will be calling on the UK Government to:

• • Allow international travel to return safely and in a risk managed way by properly implementing the Global Travel Taskforce’s plan.
  • Bring forward a package of tailored financial support to recognise that the unlocking of international travel, and hence businesses’ ability to trade and generate income, will be much slower than first anticipated, and more gradual than for businesses in the domestic economy.

https://www.abta.com/news/travel-industry-day-action-planned-wednesday-23-june-2021

• West End Footfall

Here’s a copy of the latest footfall report from the New West End Company with the data for last week (week commencing 31^st May) which highlights the impact the having few international visitors and a cautious domestic market is having on the London retail industry.

The key points are:

• • Footfall was up 11% week-on-week and up 423% year-on-year which is good
  • However it was down 44% compared with 2019
  • And YTD footfall was down 73% compared with the same period in 2019

• Debates In Parliament

There are a number of tourism related debates in parliament this week to be aware of

• • 8^th June – 11:00am until 11:30am
    • Social distancing restrictions and support for the night-time economy

Westminster Hall Debate supported by Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP (Brighton Kemptown)

• • 8^th June – after 12noon
    • Role destination management organisations can have supporting the recovery of the visitor economy from the impact of COVID-19

Lords Oral Questions supported by Lord Ravensdale

• • 10^th June – after 9:30am
    • Support for the Aviation, Travel and Tourism Industries
      General Debate in the Commons