Plans to restart foreign trips could be doomed if the UK government does not consult travellers and reassure them that trips abroad will be safe, affordable and refundable if cancelled, a consumer group says.
The government’s Global Travel Taskforce is due to outline how it will restart international travel, set to reopen no earlier than May 17, when it publishes its report in early April.
But the consumer group, Which?, is concerned that limited consultation with travellers could mean their concerns will not be addressed before international travel reopens.
Today, the group is publishing its list of consumer priorities for travel.
They focus on vital measures to build passengers' confidence about travel safety, accessible and affordable Covid-19 tests, vaccine passports and assurances that they will be refunded for coronavirus travel disruption.
Which? is also urging people to share their experiences with the taskforce, through email or social media, of how the pandemic has affected their travel plans over the past year and their concerns before travel reopens.
For more than a year, the consumer group has been hearing from people who have been let down by their travel provider after the pandemic grounded most international travel, which saw confidence in the industry plunge to a record low.
The Competition and Markets Authority said cancellations and refunds accounted for by far the most complaints to the regulator since April 2020.
The authority received about 47,000 cancellation complaints about holiday companies since March 2020, and more than 10,000 about airlines.
"Confidence in overseas travel has plummeted as a result of the pandemic, and government interventions for the industry and passengers who have been let down by their operator or airline have been woefully insufficient," said Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel.
“The taskforce has a real opportunity to give passengers the confidence to travel again, but it must take their concerns into consideration or else it risks another disastrous summer for passengers and industry."
Which? is also concerned that travellers could face huge costs for testing, which is likely to be required for entry into most destinations this summer.
Most countries now require a negative test before departure and a follow-up on arrival.
Passengers must also have a negative test to return to the UK, and further tests on days two and eight of quarantine.
PCR private tests cost about £120 ($165) each and the possibility of tourists needing up to five tests could price them out of travelling.
Which? also found that test costs in the UK are considerably higher than in other countries.
It found that the cost of tests were much lower in popular destinations across Europe, on average, compared to the UK.
In Italy, for example, the average cost is €86 ($101) a test.
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
AT%20A%20GLANCE
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Results
1. Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Alpecin-Fenix - 3:45:47
2. David Dekker (NED) Jumbo-Visma - same time
3. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep
4. Emils Liepins (LAT) Trek-Segafredo
5. Elia Viviani (ITA) Cofidis
6. Tadej Pogacar (SLO UAE Team Emirates
7. Anthony Roux (FRA) Groupama-FDJ
8. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:00:03
9. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep
10. Fausto Masnada (ITA) Deceuninck-QuickStep
RESULT
Esperance de Tunis 1 Guadalajara 1
(Esperance won 6-5 on penalties)
Esperance: Belaili 38’
Guadalajara: Sandoval 5’
The biog
Name: Samar Frost
Born: Abu Dhabi
Hobbies: Singing, music and socialising with friends
Favourite singer: Adele
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The chef's advice
Troy Payne, head chef at Abu Dhabi’s newest healthy eatery Sanderson’s in Al Seef Resort & Spa, says singles need to change their mindset about how they approach the supermarket.
“They feel like they can’t buy one cucumber,” he says. “But I can walk into a shop – I feed two people at home – and I’ll walk into a shop and I buy one cucumber, I’ll buy one onion.”
Mr Payne asks for the sticker to be placed directly on each item, rather than face the temptation of filling one of the two-kilogram capacity plastic bags on offer.
The chef also advises singletons not get too hung up on “organic”, particularly high-priced varieties that have been flown in from far-flung locales. Local produce is often grown sustainably, and far cheaper, he says.
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi
Director: Kangana Ranaut, Krish Jagarlamudi
Producer: Zee Studios, Kamal Jain
Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Ankita Lokhande, Danny Denzongpa, Atul Kulkarni
Rating: 2.5/5
