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COVID: the UK is facing another `staycation ́ this Summer, as plans to Reopen international flights are uncertain

Coronavirus

COVID: the UK is facing another `staycation ́ this Summer, as plans to Reopen international flights are uncertain

COVID: the UK is facing another `staycation ́ this Summer, as plans to Reopen international flights are uncertain

Predictions say that this summer might easily turn into a  ́staycation ́ boom of Brits, as there are now doubts over whether or not international travel will resume on the 17th May.

International holidays abroad may be on pause for another year with the growing number of variants emerging.

People’s hope to visit family they have not seen in months is slowly fading.

Yet, new variants have reared their heads across the globe and the government is being on continuous alert.

It isn’t clear when the return back to normality is not coming soon.

Dr Mike Tildesley, a member of the government’s Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling, warned that “international travel this summer is, for the average holiday maker, sadly I think, extremely unlikely.”

At the moment, airlines are also betting against a return to leisure travel.

EasyJet has stated that it “expects to fly no more than 20 percent of planned capacity” during the first quarter. A lot of this depends on the success of the vaccination programme, as it is likely that the majority of travellers will need to have been vaccinated.

Something that will simply not be possible for many young Brits until summer is already underway.

Mark Jit, a professor of vaccine epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene said, “I don’t anticipate getting on a plane or even a long distance train.”

Holidays in and around Britain may be the safest option to choose.

Many believe that there is reason to be hopeful, perhaps planning a domestic holiday is a safer option, providing a much needed boost to local economies.

However, concerns keep rising as the UK is set to lose up to £22bn in tourism revenues this year because of the pandemic.

Gloria Guevara, the WTTC president said, “Although there has been an increase in the number of domestic holidays being taken in the UK, as UK consumers steer clear of trips abroad, their spend is highly unlikely to offset the collapse of international travel.”

Written by Sabrina Khetta

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