UPDATE 1-Britain cracks down on travel to stop virus spread

(Adds background, detail, airlines comment)

LONDON, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Britain announced new measures to
reduce travel in and out of the country on Wednesday, hoping
that by tightening its borders it can reduce the risk of new
variants of the coronavirus spreading and putting its
vaccination programme at risk.

Travellers arriving in Britain from high-risk COVID-19
countries will have to quarantine for 10 days in
government-provided accommodation, while those wishing to leave
will need to explain why in a process checked before departure,
interior minister Priti Patel said on Wednesday.

Further details on the "managed isolation process", where
people quarantine in hotels, will be provided next week she
said, adding that there would also be more police checks on
arrivals from elsewhere.

"It is clear that there are still too many people coming in
and out of our country each day," she told parliament.

"People should be staying at home, unless they have a valid
reason to leave. Going on holiday is not a valid reason."

The list of travel exemptions will also be urgently
reviewed, she said, to crack down on movements and ensure only
those people with exceptional reasons go abroad.

More restrictions will mean further pain for airlines and
the travel industry at a time when many companies are struggling
after eleven months of the pandemic.

Airlines UK, which represents British Airways,
easyJet and others, repeated calls for government help.

"We can only help connect the UK to the world – and deliver
the Global Britain agenda that is so important to our future
prosperity – if we have a viable airlines sector," said Airlines
UK chief executive Tim Alderslade.
(Reporting by Andy Bruce and William James, writing by Sarah
Young; editing by James Davey)