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* Non-essential travel to be punished with 5,000 pound fine
* UK seeks to protect itself from COVID-19 infections abroad
* British travel stocks suffer from new measure
(Adds Hancock comments)
By Sarah Young
LONDON, March 23 (Reuters) - Travellers from England will
face 5,000 pound ($6,900) fines in new legislation designed to
deter non-essential trips and barricade the nation against
imported COVID-19 infections.
The news was a disappointment to millions of people hoping
for a summer holiday and sent travel stocks - including easyJet
, British Airway-owner, Jet2 and TUI
- down 2-4% in early trade on Tuesday.
Travel shares had also fallen on Monday.
The United Kingdom has had one of the worst COVID-19 tolls
in the world, but deaths and infections are falling fast and a
successful vaccination campaign is finally breathing confidence
back into the population and the economy.
However, as a gradual easing of lockdown is set to begin
from this weekend, the government is warning that people may
have to sacrifice long-desired holidays abroad.
"We are seeing this third wave rising in some parts of
Europe and we're also seeing new variants and it is very
important that we protect the progress that we've been able to
make here in the UK," health minister Matt Hancock told Sky
News.
EXTENSION OF BAN?
The United Kingdom currently bans all foreign travel, except
for work, education or health reasons. However, the government
is to review that in April and possibly allow it from May 17.
The new travel fines were included in legislation applying
until the end of June in case the ban is not eased, Hancock
said, adding to other comments by officials hinting at an
extension of the prohibition.
Hancock said it was too early to say for sure.
The legislation, which went to parliament on Monday, would
be voted on during Thursday's session and, if approved as
expected, come into force on March 29th, he said.
It applies only to England, but Scotland, Wales and Northern
Ireland may follow suit.
The European travel sector, which usually benefits from the
millions of Britons who take trips abroad, are now bracing for a
second lost summer.
Britain's travel sector has lost more than 45,000 jobs and
passenger numbers at the biggest airport, Heathrow, have fallen
to their lowest since 1966 during the crisis.
The government's review on April 12 is expected to introduce
a risk-based traffic light system where countries are classified
as "green" or "red".
($1 = 0.7228 pounds)
(Reporting by Sarah Young;
Editing by James Davey and Kate Holton)
