LONDON, June 2 (Reuters) - The bosses of over 100 British
companies in the travel and hospitality industry have warned the
government that a 14-day quarantine rule on arrivals into the
country will result in job losses and could cause businesses to
collapse.
Airlines such as British Airways have already said
that quarantine will push back a travel recovery, and pressure
is mounting on the government to find an alternative to its
quarantine rule, as people want to book summer holidays.
According to newspaper reports, ministers are aiming to
replace the coronavirus quarantine rule, due to come into effect
on 8 June, with a plan for so-called air bridges which would
enable unrestricted travel between low-risk countries.
In a survey of 124 chief executives, owners and business
leaders in the travel and hospitality industry, 71% said they
expected to make almost two-thirds of their staff redundant if
the quarantine measures go ahead.
The bosses, of businesses such as travel firms Kuoni,
Neilson and Cosmos, as well as Rocco Forte Hotels and The Ritz,
said they expected summer bookings to disappear due to the
quarantine measures, and over a quarter of respondents said
their businesses could cease trading as a result.
"The quarantine measures are a blunt weapon which will bring
only economic disaster," said the chief executive of tour
operator Red Savannah in comments alongside the survey published
on Tuesday.
The vast majority of respondents said they would prefer air
bridges to the quarantine rule.
(Reporting by Sarah Young; editing by Stephen Addison)