UK Finance Minister Pushes For UK Travel Restrictions To Be Eased
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak has pressed for an easing of UK travel restrictions to support the tourism sector which continues to be hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. There are currently concerns that the UK is not reaping the full benefits of its successful vaccination programme.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson warning of the impact that the UK’s strict border controls is having on the country’s economic recovery.
Last month, England lifted the requirement for fully vaccinated citizens to complete the quarantine period when returning from medium-risk destinations. From 2 August, visitors from the EU and US with the same vaccine status will also be exempt from the quarantine period. However, travellers are still required to take costly tests before departure and soon after arrival. Sunak’s letter to the Prime Minister comes ahead of Thursday’s meeting of ministers to consider changes to the current coronavirus travel restrictions. However, many believe that the restrictions should remain in place to prevent a further increase in cases or the outbreak of a new variant.