Tourism leaders in North urge rethink of airport quarantine plans

Tourism leaders in the North of England have written to government, urging for a more targeted approach to screening arrivals to the UK at airports.

New restrictions are due to come into effect in June 2020, requiring air passengers to quarantine for 14 days on arrival to the UK to control the spread of Covid-19. Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) responsible for promoting local tourism are warning that the restrictions will impact the sector’s ability to recover economically, after already being one of the most affected by the pandemic.

International tourism contributes £2.5 billion annually the North’s economy, and Manchester Airport provides direct connections with nine out of the top ten inbound visitor markets. Services to China alone are believed to bring £250 million into the North’s tourism and hospitality industries.

While the North’s DMOs recognise the imperative of public health measures, ten have signed a letter to government warning of the damage to a blanket approach to all international travellers. Tourism leaders instead recommend the use of ‘air bridges’ allowing movement from markets where Covid-19 is controlled.

Sheona Southern, Managing Director of Marketing Manchester, said:

Manchester Airport is the Gateway to the North and its success has contributed immensely to our ability to grow the tourism economies in cities such as Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds as well as rural hot spots like the Lake District, Peak District and even North Wales. As DMOs we have a strong track record of working in partnership to grow visitor numbers and we now need to use our collective voice to ask for a nuanced approach to airport quarantine plans across the UK in order to support destination recovery of what is undoubtedly now a decimated industry.”

Manchester Airports Group has also been critical of the proposed 14-day quarantine policy, with CEO Charlie Cornish describing the move as ‘brick wall’ to the recovery of the aviation and tourism sector in the UK.