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European hotspot reopens for tourists in time for summer – but will Britons be welcome?

Portuguese island Madeira is the latest country to announce plans to welcome back international tourists following the coronavirus lockdown. The island, which is situated off the northwest coast of Africa and is an autonomous region of Portugal, will reopen to visitors on July 1.

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However, in order to meet the entry criteria, visitors must be able to prove they do not have coronavirus (COVID-19).

Tourists will either have to show documentation confirming they have received a negative coronavirus test within 72 hours prior to their arrival, or they can receive a free test which will be administered by authorities upon arrival.

The tests will be free to those entering the holiday destination.

Authorities also working to implement a COVID-free certificate which will be given to tourism businesses in Madeira.

It is hoped this will provide peace of mind for the safety of travellers.

“Madeira Islands are focused on positioning as a COVID-safe destination,” said the country’s tourism officials.

“Furthermore, Madeira was a pioneer in the whole of Portugal in developing a good practices document to deal with COVID-19. These measures will provide comfort to those who travel and it is ultimately for the wellbeing of all.”

The country recorded no deaths from the coronavirus pandemic, and just 90 cases.

The tourism board added: “The Portuguese outpost of Madeira has had very few cases of COVID-19 and acted quickly to control the virus on the archipelago (Portugal has been widely praised for its rapid response).

“It is an island in the Atlantic, with relatively low visitor and transit numbers, which makes Madeira an exceptionally safe holiday option.”

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While some countries, such as Greece, are whitelisting international visitors from certain places, Madeira has not set out any such measures.

Greece is currently not welcoming British tourists back despite restarting its tourism season.

Madeira is a three and a half-plane journey from the UK and is famed for its year-round warm temperatures.

In the summer it reaches highs of around 27 degrees, meanwhile, in the winter months, temperatures stay at approximately 17 degrees.

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Last year, the country also won the award for Best Island Destination in Europe as part of the World Travel Awards.

Madeira is the latest in a string of European destinations gearing up to welcome back international tourists in the summer months.

Earlier this week Spain said it would be allowing visitors back into the country without the need for a 14-day quarantine as of July 1.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arancha González Laya confirmed the news on her Twitter profile saying: “The worst is behind us.

“In July we will gradually open Spain to international tourists, lift the quarantine, ensure the highest standards of health safety.

“We look forward to welcoming you!”

Meanwhile, Portugal and the UK could be set to establish an ‘air bridge’ between the two countries.

This decision could see travellers allowed to visit the country without the need for a 14-day quarantine period.

The air corridor would also allow British visitors to Portugal to avoid having to quarantine after returning home too, according to two Portuguese sources speaking to Reuters.

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Dubai's Dnata confirms 'substantial number' of employees have been stood down

Airport services firm says undisclosed number of staff members have been let go amid Covid-19 pandemic

Earlier this month Dnata, which employs 45,000 globally across its airport and travel services divisions, reported a 57 percent fall in annual profit.

Dubai airport services firm Dnata has revealed the company has been forced to “stand down” a “very substantial number of employees” while conceding that redundancies have also been made.

Earlier this month Dnata, which employs 45,000 globally across its airport and travel services divisions, reported a 57 percent fall in annual profit after the pandemic decimated the travel industry.

In a statement sent to Arabian Business, a spokesperson said: “In many of our operations we have zero activity/income. Simply put, no business is sustainable on such basis. Further, future activity levels remain unpredictable with varying views as to the longevity of the disruption and subsequent implications of a global recession.

“Given this extraordinary operating environment we have had to take some difficult steps to adjust our business model and work hard as we right size our business for what, right now, is an uncertain future.

“Reluctantly this has also meant we have had to stand down a very substantial number of employees and have also had to let some of our people go.”

The spokesperson did not give an indication of numbers impacted by the latest move.

The business, which along with Emirates airline is an asset of Dubai state company Emirates Group, provides airport services at 95 airports in 15 countries and catering services at 60 locations in 12 countries.

Just last week Dnata admitted it is looking to review its operations in Australia after the company was excluded from the country’s JobKeeper legislation.

A statement from the company said the decision to amend the legislation, preventing businesses owned by foreign governments from claiming, has put 4,500 jobs at risk.

The spokesperson added: “We are working with governments on furlough schemes, where they exist; and constantly looking at ways to redeploy our skilled workforce until normal operations resume.”

On Sunday, Emirates airlines revealed that the Dubai-based carrier is conducting a “thorough review of costs”.

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Ryanair flights: Airline confirms it will resume most flights from July 1

Ryanair, Europe’s largest passenger airline has announced plans to resume most of its flights from July 1. With travel restrictions still in place and Brits being advised not to travel, the budget airline hopes to see more passengers visiting popular tourist destinations.

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Ryanair is currently operating around 30 flights a day, however the airline wishes to boost this to a flight capacity of 40 percent from July.

In a bid to get the airline up and running again, new hygiene measures will be put in place to ensure staff and passengers are safe.

The company announced the news after the Spanish government announced that it would welcome tourists from July 1 with no mandatory quarantine.

After flights were grounded because of the travel restrictions implemented because of the coronavirus pandemic, the travel industry now has plans towards resuming flights.

The budget airline has said it will be running daily flights from the UK and Ireland to popular tourist destinations and has launched an online sale to encourage people to book a holiday.

One-way fares start from €29.99 (£26.71) in a bid to kick-start demand for travel again.

Ryanair’s CEO Eddie Wilson said: “After 4 months of lockdown, we welcome these moves by Governments in Italy, Greece, Portugal, Spain and Cyprus to open their borders, remove travel restrictions and scrap ineffective quarantines.

“Irish and British families, who have been subject to lockdown for the last 10 weeks, can now look forward to booking their much needed family holiday to Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, and other Mediterranean destinations, for July & Aug before the schools return in Sept.

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“Ryanair will be offering up to 1,000 flights from 1 July, and we have a range of low fare seat sales, perfect for that summer getaway, which we know many parents and their kids will be looking forward to as me move out of lockdown and into the school holidays.”

He insisted that all Ryanair flights will operate with new hygiene guidelines in place.

The airline also posted a video of their face mask measures on their Twitter page with the caption: “The health and safety of our passengers is very important to us – this is why face masks will be mandatory on all our flights once we return to service.”

Passengers flying with the airline will be told that they should check their temperature before going to the airport, and it might be checked again before the flight.

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Ryanair also said that all planes will be professionally cleaned and disinfected regularly.

The airline is hoping to resume flights to countries including:
• Spain
• Italy
• Portugal
• Malta
• Croatia
• Greece
• Romania
• Bulgaria

In Portugal, hotels will start reopening on June 1, and beaches will reopen a week later with social distancing rules put in place.

Similarly in Greece, some beaches have already reopened, while hotels and popular tourist spots are set to reopen at the beginning of June.

Other airlines have also announced plans to boost flight numbers.

EasyJet announced last week that it will be resuming flights from June 15 with a mainly domestic schedule in the UK and France.

British Airways is due to launch “a meaningful return to service in July,” while Jet2.com says that they will be resuming its flight programme at the beginning of July.

While Spain has lifted the mandatory quarantine for tourists in a bid to get the tourism industry back up and running, the UK is to impose a two week quarantine requirement for anyone arriving in the country from June 8, but the rules will be reviewed every three weeks after Australia has asked to be exempt from this.

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‘COVID Campers’ Provide Opportunities for Americans Desperate to Travel

As lockdown restrictions begin to ease after over two months, the majority of Americans still worry that politicians have pushed for the country’s reopening too quickly in efforts to revive the floundering economy.

Fearing a second wave of COVID-19 infections as regular activities resume—yet, keenly feeling the effects of prolonged cabin fever—many are planning to escape their homes this summer while doing their utmost to remain in relative isolation. Which is why searches for and sales of recreational vehicles (RVs) have already spiked in the lead-up to Memorial Day weekend, traditionally the start of the U.S. camping season.

As a “home away from home,” an RV promises a perceived sense of safety in isolation that no hotel or resort can provide, although the accommodations are perhaps not as glamorous. And, it means that friends and families can escape the confines of their quarantine shelters out into the wider world without having to contemplate the potential health hazards associated with air travel or cruise vessels.

Mike Regan, who owns two RV dealerships outside of Austin, Texas, told Bloomberg that floor traffic is up 30 percent over May 2019 and he’s seeing such a boom in business that his supply of trailers and motorhomes may not be enough to satisfy demand.

Dealers are, indeed, reporting droves of customers in showrooms and many of them first-time buyers, said Bob Martin, CEO of Thor Industries, Inc.—one of the nation’s two largest publicly-traded RV manufacturers. “Every dealer that I talk to is just blown away by the reaction of people that have never even thought about an RV,” he said. “A lot of people are really going to look more at this lifestyle.”

While the pandemic forced a massive number of Americans to cancel their spring and summer vacation plans—due to travel restrictions, airlines slashing their schedules and cruise ships being barred from sailing—41 percent of RV owners reported their existing camping plans remained unchanged, and thirteen percent said they were merely postponed, according to Kampgrounds of America.

Historically, heightened sales of motorhomes and travel trailers (the kind you hitch up to your car or truck) have signaled the end of a recession, but this time it’s different. Sales are spiking as the U.S. enters its worst economic contraction since the Great Depression.

While job losses have been massive and over 20 percent of workers are claiming unemployment benefits, people are paying upwards of $100,000 on RVs that will allow them to high-tail it away from home while staying well clear of other vacationers.

Richard Curtin, a professor at the University of Michigan who issues an annual RV industry forecast, said, “It definitely shows that consumers have not sworn off all consumption. “This is a coronavirus recession. Once there’s a vaccine, consumers think the causes will resolve relatively quickly, unlike the economic problems of the Great Recession.” He also said that it’s too soon to tell if this month’s sales momentum will carry on throughout the year.

It isn’t just sales that are on the rise. Jen Young, co-founder of Outdoorsy—a platform that matches up roughly 40,000 RV owners with renters in search of a kind of “RV Airbnb”—says bookings have now skyrocketed after having fallen during the pandemic’s early days. And, rather than booking months in advance, people are raring to go, making reservations just days ahead of their planned departures.

Young said that travelers think to themselves: “‘I won’t visit any place where a lot of people will go,’ so that pretty much [cancels] out all the big city centers and air travel.” She reflected, “There’s just so much more flexibility in recreation vehicle travel.”

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Thailand Launches New Program to Ensure Visitor Safety, Confidence

Thailand has taken a key step in welcoming back travelers amid the COVID-19 pandemic, launching a new safety certification program that will identify businesses, including restaurants, hotels and travel agents, that meet all appropriate COVID-19 hygiene and quality controls upon inspection.

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The Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA) Certification Program was announced by a handful of the country’s top officials on Tuesday, including Phiphat Ratchakitprakan, Minister of Tourism and Sports; Chote Trachu, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Tourism and Sports; Dr. Panpimol Wipulakorn, Director-General, Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health and Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand during a recent press conference in Bangkok.

SHA eligible businesses include restaurants; hotels and accommodation providers; convention centers; recreation and tourist attractions; tourist transport vehicle providers; travel agents; tour operators; health spas and beauty parlors; department stores and shopping centers; sports stadiums for tourism; theaters and souvenir shops and other retailers.

After meeting all necessary hygiene and quality controls following a rigorous inspection, approved businesses will display the SHA logo to reassure travelers.

Certification will be granted for two years pending any violations.

“Ensuring high health and safety standards will be one of the key criteria for Thai tourism to establish its competitive advantage in the recovery period. The desire to travel will remain strong, but when it actually comes to the decision-making time, visitors will opt for those destinations where they feel confident about their personal safety,” said Supasorn, in a statement accompanying Tuesday’s announcement.

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Flights: Will I need to wear a mask to fly?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says wearing a mask will not protect you from coronavirus if you don’t combine it with other measures and hand hygiene. WHO recommends wearing a mask if you are coughing or sneezing, or taking care of a person with COVID-19 symptoms. There is no evidence that wearing a mask protects you if you aren’t sick. However, some airlines have made it mandatory to wear a face mask when travelling, thanks to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s new guidelines. Express.co.uk reveals which airlines have put in place this rule.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency published 28 pages of guidelines regarding flying.

The UK had no involvement in putting together the policy, since the Brexit ‘leave’ date was on January 31.

However, the UK will remain a member of the EU until the end of 2020, so falls subject to these rules.

British airlines and airports will most likely adopt these guidelines, which plan out how each step of the air travel process should be done.

According to EASA’s rules, those who have been in contact with someone infected with coronavirus should not turn up to the airport at all.

There will be no more waving off your loved ones, with the new rules banning anybody who is not travelling or working in the airport from coming inside.

There will be regular reminders broadcasted through the airports, warning passengers and staff to wash their hands and social distance.

There will be no duty free, either.

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Will I need to wear a mask to fly?

EASA recommends wearing a mask while travelling.

The guideline document says: “The wearing of medical face masks should be recommended for all passengers and persons within the airport and aircraft, from the moment they enter the terminal building at the departure airport until they exit the terminal building at the destination airport.

“Exemption to the obligation to wear face masks can be made for instances where otherwise specified, such as during security checks or border control.

“Children below 6 years old and people having a medical reason for not wearing face masks can also be exempted.”

In light of these guidelines, some major airlines are changing their own rules on masks.

This includes:
• Air France
• Alitalia
• Brussels Airlines
• Eurowings
• Finnair
• Iberia
• KLM
• Lufthansa
• Ryanair
• SAS
• EasyJet

You will need to wear a mask if you fly with any of the above airlines.

The EASA guidelines say passengers should replace their masks every four hours.

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The document says: “Passengers should be reminded that typically, face masks should be replaced after being worn for 4 hours, if not advised otherwise by the mask manufacturer, or when becoming wet or soiled, and that they should ensure a sufficient supply of masks adequate for the entire duration of their journey.”

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The document says: “Passengers should be also instructed on the procedures for safe disposal of used face masks; no-touch bins should be available at the airport and single-use waste bags should be available onboard and upon disembarking to dispose of used masks.

“Airport operators and aeroplane operators should include information regarding the proper use and removal of masks and the proper way to dispose of used masks in their health safety promotion material.

“Additionally, airport operators should also consider making possible the acquisition of masks at airports(e.g. through vending machines) in case passengers have no access to face masks beforehand.

“The use of face masks should be considered only as a complementary measure and not as a replacement for established preventive measures, such as physical distancing, respiratory etiquette, meticulous hand hygiene.”

What are the Government rules on wearing a mask?

The Government for England says:
• People should aim to wear face coverings on public transport and in some shops
• Also in other “enclosed spaces where social distancing is not always possible and they come into contact with others that they do not normally meet”
• “Social distancing” means staying more than two metres away from someone
• Face coverings should be worn and not surgical masks or respirators which should be left for healthcare staff and other workers who need them

People don’t need to wear face masks or coverings when they are:
• Outdoors or while exercising
• In schools
• In workplaces such as offices and shops
• Children under two or primary aged children who cannot use them without assistance
• Experiencing problems breathing while wearing a face covering

Are masks beneficial?

Medical advice on wearing a face mask is sceptical.

Public Health England isn’t sure about the public using face masks, saying: “Face masks play a very important role in clinical settings, such as hospitals, but there’s very little evidence of widespread benefit from their use outside of these clinical settings.”

WHO warns: “The wide use of masks by healthy people in the community setting is not supported by current evidence and carries uncertainties and critical risk.”

According to WHO, wearing a mask can create a “false sense of security, leading to potentially less adherence to other preventive measures such as physical distancing and hand hygiene.”

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Japan unveils $19.51 billion plan to subsidise holidays for tourists

It’s an announcement that sounds almost too good to be true.

But under a bold tourism plan to lure visitors back to Japan, the government has launched a new campaign that will help offset travel costs for visiting tourists.

According to The Japan Times, Hiroshi Tabata, the head of the Japan Tourism Agency, said the $19.51 billion plan hopes to attract foreigners by offering to subsidise half of their travel expenses.

While little detail of the programme has been announced, the government says it could be in place as early as July (despite travel bans to Japan still in place).

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Holidays 2020: Simon Calder says June holidays are ‘effectively written off’ for Britons

There may well be a light at the end of the tunnel for holidays this year after a series of announcements from various countries saying that they will be allowing tourists at some point. The latest country to announce it will be opening their doors to tourists is Spain. The holiday hotspot for Britons insisted last week that Spain will reopen to tourists in July.

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And today, Spain further sparked hope for British holidays after the country’s Foreign Minister said they will be lifting their quarantine rules for tourists from July 1.

Currently, the country is still in a ‘State of Emergency’ due to its high coronavirus case rate.

Today, Travel expert and journalist Simon Calder joined Eamon Holmes and Ruth Langsford on ITV’s This Morning to discuss summer travel options for Britons.

During the show, Mr Calder discussed the exceptions to the UK’s quarantine rules, which will be put in place from June 8.

Mr Calder confirmed that anyone arriving from June 8 onwards into the UK will need to quarantine for 14 days.

Ruth asked Mr Calder whether there were exceptions to that rule.

Mr Calder said: “There’s many exceptions, so obviously transport workers, seasonal, agricultural workers, people working in the medical professions who need to help us with the coronavirus outbreak.

“And indeed anyone coming in from the Common Travel Area as you know that’s the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

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“And that’s created the so-called ‘Dublin dodge’ where all you need to do actually if you don\t fancy quarantine is fly to Dublin airport, put a foot on Irish soil and then fly to whichever UK airport you want.

“I am not condoning this.

“It would increase greatly the risk to anybody else you encounter along the way.

“But I’m afraid that loophole is right in the middle of the quarantine rules.

“However, for the vast majority of people who booked to travel in June, this effectively means their trip is off because the vast majority of people will not be able to sit at home in really quite Draconian conditions – in a room on your own, not mixing with any family or friends, not going out at all.

“People won’t want to do that and so effectively, June has been written off.

“We got confirmation of that from the second-biggest tour operator Jet2 on Friday and TUI, the biggest holiday company is currently considering its position.”

Travellers arriving in the UK will have to fill in a form detailing the address where they’re going to isolate.

Officials can then call or visit the address at any given time during that 14 days.

Anyone caught not at home will receive a fixed penalty notice of £1,000.

Mr Calder said: “Anyone coming in can say they don’t have suitable accommodation, and the government will have to find somewhere for them to quarantine for two weeks.

“Whether that’s a nice hotel in London or a cottage by the coast, they haven’t announced the exact locations.”

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Planning a great escape this year? Follow our staycation guide

After more than two months in lockdown the public has been given a few glimmers of hope for a return to normality. But although some schools look set to reopen from next week, and there is more freedom to roam outdoors, health secretary Matt Hancock has said the possibility of a relaxed break abroad is unlikely this summer.

Which means many families will be looking at the possibility of a “staycation” and with UK holiday parks and tourist attractions gearing up to open their doors with strict guidelines on social distancing, and space for far fewer people, it will surely be a summer like no other.

When can we go on holiday?

Under the current rules, day trips to outdoor spaces are permitted but taking any kind of overnight trip, including to visit a second home, is not. Hotels and bed and breakfasts remain closed. Some holiday parks are telling customers that they expect to stay closed well into June.

There is expectation that the tourist industry could start to reopen from the beginning of July, mooted by culture secretary Oliver Dowden last week. The government has been keen to push that this will only be possible with social distancing to ward off a possible second spike.

VisitBritain has called for an extra bank holiday this year, potentially around the school half-term holiday in October, in order to make up for lost earnings from the two May bank holidays spent in lockdown.

Where can we go when things do open up?

Many people will be eager to get into the countryside, which may result in a rush, albeit short-lived, towards rural locations, according to Marloes de Vries of analysts Mintel.

“There will be a temporary increase in demand for rural and remote destinations,” she says. “Consumers locked down in small homes in cities will be keen to enjoy nature and open spaces.”

Outdoor spaces are also likely to prove popular as they allow for social distancing but should large numbers focus on the same destinations, the element of isolation could be lost.

Claudia Unger, an analyst at research firm Phocuswright, says the common hotspots are Cornwall, the Cotswolds and the Lake District but she believes people will search beyond those. She says: “Wales and the Yorkshire Dales come to mind, and, of course, the Highlands. These are known for their tranquility, scenic beauty and isolation – which could look very different when hordes of tourists come in.”

How much will it cost?

Although many people may find that they have more in their pockets now as they aren’t spending on travel and entertainment, there is a huge uncertainty about the future of the economy and the looming recession. As a result, those who are hoping to go on holiday this summer aren’t expected to splash out on short breaks and weekends away, instead, opting to spend on one family getaway.

“Travellers tend to prioritise their main holiday in difficult economic times and cut back on top-up/short breaks of one to three nights,” says de Vries.

This is especially likely as many workers will have stockpiled or carried over annual leave, giving plenty of time for longer breaks, she says. “As a result, family/beach holidays should prove more resilient than holiday types which tend to be shorter, such as city breaks.”

The tourism industry has been crippled and will be looking to recoup some losses when it reopens, meaning costs may rise amid heavy demand, says Unger. Typically, school holidays mark the beginning of heightened prices but consumers should be ready for earlier spikes.

This could lead to families looking for alternative options such as Airbnb. But Unger says prices here will also rise in the most popular locations. “Airbnb is a mixed bag: houses and accommodation available for sole use will likely see a spike in enquiries and prices – in countryside locations,” she says. “However, renting out a spare bedroom or apartments in city-centre locations will likely remain in low demand.”

Do I need different travel insurance if holidaying in the UK?

Some travel insurance policies don’t include UK cover but a good one should set out what countries are and are not covered. Consumers should look at their documents before they depart and see whether the cover is included. If it is not, insurance for the UK is widely available.

You may question why you should take out insurance for a “staycation” as medical cover is unlikely to be necessary because of the NHS. However, it can cover for train and flight cancellations and delays, holiday cancellation, lost or damaged luggage and valuables which are lost.

The travel destination will typically need to be a certain distance away from the home, such as 25 miles, before it comes into effect and many policies insist on a minimum amount of time for the duration of the trip, such as three nights.

How will we get anywhere with restrictions on the transport network?

Research suggests that there is low confidence in travelling on public transport. That, combined with the low cost of petrol, will mean people will be more likely to travel by car, leading to possible jams. For those who do take public transport, prices may also increase.

“Costs are likely to rise as fewer people will be allowed ‘on board’ (trains, ferries and airplanes). There are also additional deep-cleaning and disinfection costs which means more time is needed for the turnaround of a rental car or aircraft. A plane on the ground loses money – the same would be true for a rental car that’s waiting to be serviced before it can be leased out again,” says Unger.

Sounds like things are going to be very different this year …

Haven, one of the largest holiday parks companies, says it will reopen at the beginning of July but with limits on the number of people who can come, as well as measures to ensure social distancing. Centre Parcs is also working to reopen with social distancing.

The coming holiday seasoncould see one-way systems for people to navigate tourist attractions such as heritage sites, as well as pre-booking, additional hand-sanitiser stations and staff dressed in PPE.

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Package holiday deals will be more expensive for three years post-coronavirus

While international travel is off the agenda for Aussies at present, experts have warned future European summer holidays may cost more for the next three years due to the coronavirus crisis.

While it’s hoped prices will eventually return to pre-pandemic levels, flights and hotels may end up being much pricier until 2023.

Kuoni’s UK Managing Director Derek Jones told Travel Weekly that while hotels will offer low prices to encourage bookings initially, prices will increase there after.

“I think you might see some really good offers in the marketplace right through to the middle of next year, at least,” he explained.

“I think we will see capacity constrained over the next maybe two, three years, which inevitably is going to mean the prices will start to move as they yield off lower capacities.”

Out of the UK, airlines and tour operators are already offering cheap deals for later this year – with popular budget airline easyJet opening flights for 2021.

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Some experts think the price of holidays could skyrocket. Picture: iStock global roaming, Dilvin Yasa, EscapeSource:Supplied

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Closer to home, while international trips are set to be a while off yet, Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce hinted at domestic flight bargains when the country opens borders once again.

Mr Joyce pointed to flights from as little as $19 post-pandemic between Melbourne and Sydney, as a way of getting domestic tourism moving again.

Other travel experts, however, have expressed concerns over the cost of future holidays, with expectations of doubling prices for some locations.

Martyn James, from UK consumer website Resolver, said “it’s likely the cost of overseas package deals will double,” adding that guests will also get less for their money with limits on buffets and swimming pool access.

Aviation expert Matt Purton added the price of international flights from ports around the world could rise by 30 per cent after lockdown, while Paul Charles, from The PC Agency travel consultancy, said holiday prices will rise as “airlines will have to make more money from their economy passengers” as fewer will travel for business purposes.

There is some good news, however. Mr Jones predicts prices will go back to pre-pandemic levels with cheap holidays available one day.

Some carriers predict a drop in airfares.Source:Supplied

“I don’t see a fundamental shift in the position of holidays in terms of value, I think it will level back to something similar to the position we’re in today,” he said.

He also said that while “getting there will be more expensive,” meaning flights and cruises might cost more, properties in tourist destinations are likely to offer cheap prices with “land prices once you’re there being slightly lower”.

Holidays abroad are unlikely to start again soon for Australians, despite the push for a trans-Tasman travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand.

Domestic travel will be the first step in Australia’s tourism recovery plan, with both NSW and Victoria allowing for intrastate recreational travel from June 1.

In the UK, the government still advises against all non-essential travel, which isn’t likely to change in the upcoming months.

Countries such as Portugal and Greece are looking into ways to allow British citizens to return, such as “air bridges” which would let international travellers avoid the 14-day quarantine.

With international travel unlikely for some time, all eyes are on domestic trips.Source:Supplied

Yet with borders still closed and a mandatory two-week quarantine when returning to the UK from abroad, staycations may be the only holidays heading into their summer period.

The UK government also warned that plans, revealed by the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, to allow people to fly between countries where the spread of the virus is low, are not going to be put into practice anytime soon.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission

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