Vaccine passports for holidaymakers will soon be ‘unavoidable’ as more countries make Covid immunity a condition of entry, a leading travel health expert has claimed.
Dr Richard Dawood, a specialist in travel medicine at the Fleet Street Clinic in London, also suggested that tight border controls will remain in place while countries feel ‘insecure’ about the risks posed by the virus.
“Regardless of how any of us feel about the idea of ‘vaccine passports’ for travel, they will ultimately be unavoidable,” said Dr Dawood.
“Once countries begin insisting on proof of Covid immunity from arriving travellers [as the Seychelles has done], there will be little option but to embrace the challenge.
“We all long for travel to return to normal. But entry requirements will remain as long as countries feel insecure, perhaps until most people have been vaccinated worldwide. Social distancing, sanitisers, face masks on flights, delays, red tape, and last-minute changes of plan, will stay a fact of travel until then.”
The EU will debate vaccine certificates for travel within the bloc today, while holiday firm Saga has already confirmed that customers will need to prove they have been inoculated.
But the issue remains controversial, with some commentators expressing their doubts about the ethics of coercing people into getting vaccinated.
Writing for Telegraph Travel yesterday, the CEO of Doctorcall, Dr Charles Levinson, said: “How we balance the risk in terms of immunity passports is a question for the politicians. It’s fraught with difficulties and using any form of coercion for a medical procedure is deeply questionable”
Scroll down for more updates
03:49 PM
Will vaccine passports open up our holidays?
We could soon have to travel with not one but two passports, writes Greg Dickinson. One to prove our identity, and another to prove we have been vaccinated against Covid-19.
But there are mounting concerns and questions about privacy, the feasibility of international coordination, and whether such a programme would be discriminatory against those who have not been vaccinated.
Some are hailing 'vaccine passports' as the key to rebooting international travel in 2021 - Getty
03:36 PM
Just one in 5 hospitality businesses confident of surviving past March
Plans to keep hotels, restaurants and bars closed until May would leave "very little left of the [hospitality] sector,” the CEO of trade association UKHospitality has claimed.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4, Kate Nicholls said:
If we are pushed back to reopening in May that will be seven months that the sector has been closed without revenue and we would really struggle to survive through this.
Just one in five hospitality businesses are confident that they’d have enough cash to get through beyond March.
If we are to be closed for that much longer, we will need a significant additional injection of cash support from the government to get us through this because the support at the moment is just not sufficient to sustain and maintain businesses and jobs.
03:21 PM
‘Tell us how vaccines and testing will get the country back on its feet’
Fresh efforts to stifle the travel industry have been met with dismay.
Sonia Davies, CEO at tour operator Scott Dunn, said:
Airlines, hotels and tour operators have worked incredibly hard to be safe and offer consumer protection to support the recovery of the travel industry. A return to knee-jerk government reactions on the travel front, as we saw at points last year, would be counter intuitive and damaging, both for consumer confidence and travel companies who are starting to get back on track.
A leading tour operator told Telegraph Travel:
Boris has been clobbered twice recently – once by Yvette Cooper and then yesterday by Keir Starmer – on decisions around border controls. It strikes me that these recent decisions are an attempt to appear to get back on the front foot and will do little to prevent the virus being imported but make useful headlines.
What we’ve needed all along is proper testing and an assured approach that is consistent with scientific advice rather than constant changes. Give us a clear programme that sets out how vaccines and testing will enable the country to get back on its feet and look ahead to travelling within the UK and beyond.
03:11 PM
Airport boss calls for an end to uncertainty over travel rules
The chief executive of Southend Airport has urged the Government to end the "constant lack of uncertainty" over travel rules.
Glyn Jones claims that the constant change in travel restrictions in the UK is a major factor behind the continuing struggles of the aviation industry.
He told The Independent: “Once you start to add condition on condition on condition in any circumstance, the probability of the outcome goes down.
"Uncertainty is an absolute problem. The most valuable thing the Government can do is to create confidence in the market. Only when passengers are confident enough to book future trips will UK aviation begin to recover.”
But Mr Jones also revealed that he expects the industry to recover within the next five years, adding: “London is the biggest aviation market in the world and historically the most resilient. There will be, without any doubt, a bounce back into London.
“The real question is: when does demand return to 2019 levels? It looks as though it’s two or three years, maybe four years.
02:57 PM
Rewilding effort sees jaguars return to Argentina's Iberá wetlands for first time in 70 years
The release of jaguars into the Iberá wetlands of central Argentina earlier this month, following a 70-year absence, marks a significant moment, says Chris Moss. For centuries, development in this famously fertile southern nation has been largely defined by clearing land for growing crops and grazing, and protecting stock from predators.
A female jaguar Mariua, brought to Argentina from Brazil by Tompkins Conservation in early 2019, was allowed to step out into the wild on January 6. Early the following day she returned for her two captive-born cubs, Karai and Pora. She had apparently made a kill – of a capybara – during that first foray and was taking the cubs to share it. (The news of her release was only made public this week after permission was granted by the national parks authority, which is run from Buenos Aires.)
jaguar argentina - Getty
In recent years, rewilding has been gaining ground in Gran Iberá Park, a 1.7-million-acre wilderness protected as National and Provincial Park in the province of Corrientes. Green-winged macaws were recently reintroduced and there are schemes afoot to expand the tiny populations of tapir, anteater, collared peccary, marsh deer and other once widespread species.
What's next for Azamara after Royal Caribbean offloads its luxury line?
This time last year cruise ships were casting off on the world’s oceans blissfully unaware of the havoc that was about to befall the entire industry, writes Gary Buchanan. Since then, the Cruise & Maritime Voyages fleet (a favourite among British passengers), along with several ships from Carnival Corporation brands, have been reduced to scrap metal.
But the announcement of Azamara’s sale by the Royal Caribbean Group to a venture capitalist is in a different league – and stunned even the most cynical pundits.
Portugal sees biggest daily increase in Covid cases
The Portuguese health authorities reported the country's biggest increase in the number of new coronavirus cases yesterday, with the total number of confirmed infections now standing at more than half a million.
Wednesday saw 14,647 new cases confirmed, a substantial increase on the previous record of 10,947 announced last Saturday.
Fatality rates in Portugal have also reached new heights this week, with the previous record of 218 (only set on Tuesday) broken by the 219 deaths reported yesterday.
The government has now implemented tougher restrictions throughout the country, including strict limitations on domestic travel.
Coronavirus Portugal Spotlight Chart - Cases default
02:15 PM
Comment: Having no holiday plans is psychologically harmful
In normal times, before the pandemic, there was a very easy solution to the January and February blues: fill up the calendar with some good old-fashioned holiday plans, writes Greg Dickinson.
Oh, those were the days. We would trawl the internet for bargains and book Easter escapes, half-term getaways and summer adventures. Then, after we’d clicked “book”, our daydreams would be injected with some much-needed realism, for a holiday was just around the corner. We knew we would, in the near future, be clinking glasses at an airport or train station, toasting the trip ahead.
There are very real and very worrying mental health effects of this awful pandemic. We might feel anxious or depressed as we watch case and death numbers crawling up, or perhaps our worries centre on the systematic removal of our basic freedoms, or fears that the vaccine might not work as well as hoped. Or all the above.
Not having a holiday on the horizon could be more damaging than you might think - Getty
02:02 PM
Glastonbury 2021 cancelled, organisers confirm
Glastonbury Festival will not take place this year amid the ongoing pandemic, its organisers have confirmed.
In a statement, Michael and Emily Eavis said:
With great regret, we must announce that this year’s Glastonbury festival will not take place, and that this will be another enforced fallow year for us.
In spite of our efforts to move heaven and earth, it has become clear that we simply will not be able to make the festival happen this year.
We are so sorry to let you all down. We are very confident we can deliver something really special for us all in 2022!
Glastonbury's founders say they hope the festival will be back in 2022 - Getty
01:52 PM
'It will breed resentment': Travellers weigh in on vaccine passports
The prospect of vaccine passports is already proving divisive. So, Emma Cooke has been speaking to travel industry experts and readers on both sides of the fence:
“Having seen the huge strain a lack of tourism is putting on conservation and community projects in Africa, anything that gets tourism moving to some extent should be a good idea,” said Alexandra Matts, director safari specialist Extraordinary Africa. She highlighted – along with many others – that vaccinations (usually for yellow fever) being an entry requirement are already “common” in Africa.
“When I went to Uganda in 2019, having the yellow fever jab and showing proof of a vaccine was a requisite for getting a visa,” agreed travel writer Julia Hammond. “So I don’t understand how having to supply proof of a Covid jab to visit a country would be any different or any more discriminatory?”
Travel industry insiders say that they believe border closures will do nothing to help Britain’s Covid response – and have urged the Government to invest in testing and enforcement, to help get the country back on its feet.
A spokesperson for Airlines UK said:
Now is the time to work to get the UK back in business as the successful vaccine roll-out continues. We have successfully implemented pre-departure testing for all UK arrivals, have quarantine for a minimum of five days, and now the removal of travel corridors, and the sector has worked with the Government on a comprehensive plan to make the passenger experience safe and secure.
We haven’t seen any evidence shutting the border will make a material difference.
Paul Charles, CEO of travel consultancy The PC Agency, said:
Only regular world-class testing will catch cases and prevent the spread of Covid. The UK Government really has to put more resources into daily arrivals testing, so that cases can be properly tracked at the border, in addition to insisting on negative test proof before boarding a flight or ferry or Eurostar.
Further quarantine measures are not the answer and, indeed, are not even proven to work. The UK Government doesn’t 100% enforce its existing quarantine measures so has no idea whether they work or not.
01:30 PM
Our blueprint for getting holidays back to normal
Grant Shapps said he “hadn’t a clue” whether the over 50s should start booking their summer holiday. We need a better plan than that, says Nick Trend.
There are important battles to be won first, of course. Not least in hospital intensive care units and in rolling out a successful vaccination programme. But, if all goes well, within a few weeks many of us will dare to start dreaming about the realities of travel once more.
By Easter, the vast majority of those vulnerable to the disease in this country should have been protected. Deaths and hospitalisations from Covid will then have dropped so much that there will – hopefully – be no reason for the Government to prevent us leaving the country and travelling if so we wish.
French ski season ‘a complete write-off’ as Government extends lift closures
The ski season in France is likely to be “a complete write-off”, one Government official has said, as the country's ministers announce an extension to the closure of its ski lifts.
Ski resort bosses were hoping lifts would be permitted to start turning from February 1, putting an end to their closure since autumn. But French tourism minister Jean Baptiste Lemoyne yesterday confirmed they must remain closed for the foreseeable future, due to rising coronavirus cases.
“A reopening in the middle or end of February is highly unlikely,” he said after a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron yesterday. “We are looking at a complete write-off for the season.”
What could hotel quarantine look like for UK travellers?
As the UK Government strives to combat the spread of new Covid variants, all eyes are on our international borders, writes Hazel Plush. Currently, of course, they are closed to anybody without a negative Covid-19 result – and all arrivals into the country must quarantine for up to ten days.
However, the quarantine system is not without fault: yes, the £1,000 fine for breaches is a hefty deterrent, but even senior Border Force officials have said the wider system is 'unenforceable'.
The solution? That is currently being debated by ministers – but one option on the table is quarantine hotels, or 'directed isolation'. Such facilities are already in use across Asia, New Zealand and Australia, in which arriving travellers must see out their quarantine under supervision.
But how might the idea work in the UK, and who would have to foot the bill?
The Spanish government is pushing for the EU to begin developing official certification for the Covid vaccine.
Speaking on RNE radio station this morning, Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez said that the ability for travellers to prove they have been immunised is vital to the restart of travel.
"Vaccine certification is something we are going towards inevitably," she said. "It will be a very important element to guarantee a safe return to mobility."
12:34 PM
EU considering travel bans to combat Covid variants
Travellers from outside the EU, including Britons, could be barred from entering the Schengen Area without a negative Covid-19 test.
Under new proposals put forward by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, EU member states would coordinate tough border controls to prevent the spread of emerging Covid variants, including those discovered in the UK, Brazil and South Africa.
Government within the EU would also be “free to impose further-reaching temporary bans on entry and on transporting passengers entering from third countries with virus variant areas”.
The bans would be “possibly applicable also to EU citizens and persons with a right of residence in the EU,” according to the document seen by The Daily Telegraph.
The Netherlands has already announced a travel ban on the UK, South America and South Africa, effective from Saturday, while UK ministers are also expected to discuss stricter travel restrictions – including Australian-style quarantine hotels – on Friday.
12:19 PM
Mapped: Coronavirus around the world
Here's the latest data on how countries around the world are dealing with the pandemic. Cases are particularly high in Europe and South America, as well as the US and South Africa.
Israel and the UAE are leading the way in vaccine doses administered, with the UK and US following close behind (use the tabs on the map to switch views).
Cases, deaths and vaccinations, coronavirus world map
12:06 PM
Lufthansa prepares for record-breaking flight
German airline Lufthansa is counting down to take-off for its longest ever flight.
Set to depart on February 1, Flight 2574 will depart Hamburg for RAF Mount Pleasant Airport in the Falkland islands – an 8,500-mile journey lasting 15 hours.
The Airbus A350-900 will carry 92 passengers comprising scientists bound for Antarctica and the ship's crew hired to transport them on the next leg of the journey.
Some 600 Lufthansa staff are believed to have volunteered for the special trip, despite the 14-day quarantine they'll have to undergo upon return.
11:50 AM
Romania scraps quarantine for vaccinated visitors
The Romanian government has announced that travellers entering the country with both doses of the coronavirus vaccine will not have to enter quarantine.
Visitors must have had the second dose at least 10 days before travelling, and will have to present a certificate at the border showing proof of immunisation.
bucharest, romania - Getty
Romania becomes the second country to drop quarantine requirements for vaccinated visitors after the Seychelles amended its entry rules earlier this week.
Cyprus also announced a plan to waive testing requirements for arrivals who have been vaccinated, although the Cypriot government has to enact it.
European travel industry warned not to expect Easter recovery
Europe's airlines and hotel operators have been warned that their struggles will continue over the Easter period, despite vaccine rollouts.
Data from Amadeus IT Group, which is one of the world's largest providers of travel software (bookings systems, etc.), indicates that demand will not pick up for the vital holiday window, although recovery looks increasingly likely towards the summer.
“We don’t see a recovery at Easter, with similar levels to what we saw in 2020 – or 20% to 25% of what the industry had in 2019,” said Decius Valmorbida, president of the travel unit at Amadeus IT Group SA.
However, Mr Valmorbida also noted that holidaymakers are booking trips at shorter notice, with the average holiday now booked three months in advance compared to six months pre-pandemic.
Last-minute holidays are also being booked later, averaging seven days in advance, down from 15 days in 2019.
11:09 AM
Nectar revealed as new Avios partner
British Airways and Nectar have announced a new partnership this morning, enabling travellers to turn Nectar points into Avios, reports Hazel Plush.
From 25 January, existing Nectar balances and future points may be converted into Avios – which can be redeemed through the British Airways Executive Club on flights, upgrades, hotel stays, holidays, car hire and more.
This is heartening news for Avios members who, since Avios ended its partnership with Tesco in October, have been speculating which supermarket will pick up the baton.
400 Nectar points will ‘buy’ 250 Avios, and members will receive a one-off bonus 500 Avios when they convert 1,600 Nectar points. For the first time ever, the transaction will work both ways, with Avios members able to swap 250 points for 400 Nectar.
Customers will also receive double Nectar points at Sainsbury’s until 19 April 2021.
Adam Daniels, CEO of Avios, said: “Like Nectar, we pride ourselves on working with a wide range of partners for the benefit of our members, so working together was a natural step. Nectar will join hundreds of partners who all offer a whole host of exciting and varied ways to collect and spend Avios.”
10:56 AM
98% of Saga passengers in favour of vaccination rule
The overwhelming majority of Saga customers voted in favour of passengers being required to show proof of a Covid vaccination before boarding.
A poll of 2,000 customers saw 98% answer in favour of the policy.
Saga is introducing mandatory vaccination requirement for those taking its holidays and cruises after 98% of customers polled were in favour of the policy.
If you can't get onboard with a vaccine, you probably won't be getting onboard a plane or ship for a holiday in 2021.
Saga, which typically markets cruises and holidays for the over-50s, announced yesterday that it would only take those who are “fully vaccinated”, becoming the first UK cruise line to make immunisation compulsory.
Nick Stace, the CEO of Saga's travel division, said: “Given that many of our customers are in the priority age range and we’ve done calculations based on what government has said, we think shortly after beginning of May almost all of customers will have received a second vaccination.”
10:44 AM
Norwegian Cruise Line 'exploring' possibility of compulsory passenger vaccines
Passengers travelling with Norwegian Cruise Line in the future may have to present proof of a Covid vaccination before boarding. A spokesperson confirmed that the company is "exploring all options" for customers, but crew will have to be vaccinated in order to work.
The NCL statement says:
The safety of our guests, crew and communities we visit remains our highest priority. We continue to closely monitor the evolving impacts of the Covid-19 global pandemic and vaccine developments.
We are exploring all options regarding vaccinations for guests and crew and it is our intention that all crew members be vaccinated before boarding our vessels to begin their duties, subject to availability of the vaccine.
10:32 AM
Comment: Lastminute.com is fleecing customers in a time of crisis
I’m embarrassed, writes Simon Parker. I’m meant to be a “travel expert” but Lastminute.com has left me looking like an amateur.
On November 18 I bought two Virgin Atlantic return tickets – via Lastminute.com – from London to Cape Town, flying in the first week of January. Fed up with a rubbish year, my girlfriend and I were taking off for a working holiday in the Western Cape. We did the same thing last winter, and we’ll likely do it again next.
But on December 18 I received an email from them telling me that “Virgin Atlantic Airways has cancelled its flights for London – Cape Town.” We would, however, be entitled to a “refund” once the airline had released the monies back to them. But, they warned, it “could take up to two months to complete.”
Fine, I thought. Two new strains of coronavirus had made the trip increasingly unappealing, anyway. And, however annoying it was, we could survive without the money if it took the full two months. Yesterday, to my surprise, I received an email from them telling me that my “refund” was ready.
The problem is that it’s not actually a refund at all.
Norwegian expresses gratitude for government rescue deal
Norway's government has backed a rescue deal for its largest airline to save it from collapse.
Norwegian Air Shuttle will receive a government loan of NKr4.5bn ($530m), having already been bailed out by the Norwegian government earlier this. Another bailout was rejected in the autumn.
The low-cost carrier has now axed its long-haul service as part of the deal, cutting 2,000 jobs in the process – more than half of which were at Gatwick Airport.
Norwegian CEO, Jacob Schram, said: “On behalf of everyone at Norwegian, I would like to sincerely thank the government for their support. Norwegian has been faced with a very challenging and demanding situation due to the pandemic, and the government’s support significantly increases our chances of raising new capital and getting us through the reconstruction process we are currently in.
"We still have a lot of work ahead of us, but a participation from the government underscores that we are heading in the right direction.”
Jacob Schram, CEO of Norwegian - Getty
10:04 AM
Fewer than one in 10 Britons confident of a 'normal' overseas holiday this year
Just 9% of Britons feel confident of a 'normal' holiday abroad in 2021, while 74% believe that holidays this year will not be the same as in 2019, according to a YouGov poll.
Of the 3,544 people surveyed, it was found the confidence was highest among young travellers, with 14% of respondents aged 18-24 believing that 2021 will see travel will return to the way it was before the pandemic.
Despite recent reports that over-50s are behind a surge in 2021 holiday bookings, just 6% of the 50-65 age group, and 7% of the over-65s, believe we will be able to take 'normal' holidays this year.
09:55 AM
Airlines face 'almighty battle' to scrap quarantine restrictions
The airline industry is pushing for the UK government to abandon quarantine restrictions after testing requirements for inbound travellers were introduced earlier this week, but one insider has warned they face an 'almighty battle' to get it done.
A source working in the aviation industry told Travel Weekly: “The priority will be to look at a pathway out of this. Our preference is to keep the tests and remove quarantine, but that is going to be an almighty battle. It’s going to be a long process. We need to understand what restrictions will be lifted first.”
Another aviation insider added: “We recognise this is a public health emergency. It’s not realistic to lift quarantine.”
09:47 AM
Protests in the streets as Colombian cities renew lockdown restrictions
Protests led by tourism and hospitality workers have erupted across Colombia after new restrictions were announced to combat the rising Covid infection rate.
Colombia currently has the highest seven-day caseload in South America, prompting local government to introduce tough new rules in an effort to curb its growth. Bogota will go into its third consecutive week of general quarantine, while Medellin is currently in total lockdown.
Those working in the suffering industries, including restaurant and hotel workers, have taken to the streets with signs reading: "No more prohibition".
colombia lockdown protests - Getty
colombia lockdown protests - Getty
colombia lockdown protests - Getty
09:35 AM
Travellers may have to pay for two weeks in hotel quarantine
Hotel groups have begun talks with Government officials over using their facilities as quarantine centres, as it emerged on Wednesday that ministers have discussed tighter border controls that could extend to barring foreign travellers, report Harry Yorke and Lucy Fisher.
Whitehall sources confirmed that “early discussions” had been held over adopting an Australian-style border system, following reports over the weekend that people could be forced to pay to stay in a hotel for two weeks while observing a self-isolation period.
Currently Australia’s borders are closed to all arrivals except residents and those with an exemption, who are still required to quarantine at a state-approved facility.
One Government insider suggested it would be a “highly popular policy”. They pointed to Wednesday’s death toll of 1,820 people - the highest since the pandemic began - adding that the public were increasingly supportive of tightening restrictions.
Calls for a Pacific travel bubble as Australia goes four days without an infection
Australia has reported no new coronavirus infections for a fourth day running, prompting calls for a travel bubble to be set up with other Pacific nations.
The Premier of New South Wales, Gladys Berejiklien, argued that the country's tough border restrictions – which only permit entry to returning nationals – should be relaxed to allow travel arrangements with Australia's neighbours.
"There is no reason why we shouldn't aim to travel to New Zealand or some of the Pacific Islands well within the next 12 months," she told the Sydney Morning Herald.
New South Wales saw local lockdowns imposed just last month after a number of Covid cases were detected in Sydney's Northern Beaches, while a three-day lockdown was declared in Brisbane earlier this month after a hotel cleaner was found to have contracted the UK coronavirus variant.
09:06 AM
Dubai orders new restrictions as Covid cases rise
Hotels and restaurants in Dubai have been ordered to shut down all entertainment on hold as the emirate struggles to contain its largest surge in coronavirus infections since the pandemic's start.
The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing cited “an increase in number of violations” in its decision to put Dubai's leisure activities on hold.
The UAE has remained open to tourists in recent months, and was especially popular with holidaying Britons thanks to a travel corridor that was only shut last week after a significant rise in the number of new infections.
While the country has led the way in inoculating its citizens against Covid-19, the seven-day case rate has now climbed to 244.1 per 100,000 people.
Coronavirus UAE Spotlight Chart - Cases default
08:49 AM
Travellers coming to UK without negative Covid tests waved through border controls
Travellers without negative Covid-19 tests are being fined and waved through border controls into the UK despite Britons in a similar situation abroad being turned away, report Charles Hymas and Dominic Penna.
Some 30 air passengers have so far been fined £500 each after arriving in the UK without the correct certificate showing a negative PCR, lateral flow or LAMP test result from within 72 hours of departure.
The Home Office confirmed that they had been allowed on their way – meaning dozens of people who possibly have Covid have been let into the UK since rules requiring pre-departure tests were introduced at 4am on Monday.
heathrow airport - Getty
By contrast, Britons who arrived in Spain and Italy without the proper documentation or PCR tests were sent back on their planes in a series of incidents over the festive period.
It emerged that airlines which allowed passengers to fly without appropriate negative test results face fines of up to £2,000 per traveller. Under the Government's new regulations, they are required to refuse boarding to anyone who does not have the correct documentation.
08:42 AM
Netherlands to ban UK flights and debate national curfew
The Dutch government is preparing to ban flights from the UK, South America and South Africa for a month from Saturday in an effort to prevent new Covid-19 variants from spreading.
It is estimated that the more contagious variants now account for 1 in 10 new infections in the Netherlands, and Prime Minister Mark Rutte has also announced his intentions to impose a curfew on the entire country as the health authorities attempt to contain further transmission.
A debate by Dutch politicians will take place later today, although with Rutte's government acting as caretakers after resigning last week in the midst of a national scandal, many believe they face an uphill struggle to enact further restrictions.
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