Overseas holidays may not be possible for residents of Britain until all adults in the country have been vaccinated, a government official said on Wednesday, raising questions about how the tourism industry can cope with such restrictions and thwarting hopes of many who expected a relative success in the launch of vaccines in Britain may allow them to enjoy the trips abroad this summer.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said on British television that international travel would depend on “everyone getting their vaccines” in Britain and that restrictions could remain as long as other countries have not made significant progress on vaccinations.
“We need to wait for other countries to update us as well, in order to make this international unlocking broader,” said Shapps.
On Wednesday, Britain administered more than 12.5 million doses of vaccine, equivalent to about 18% of its population, one of the highest rates in the world. At the current rate, the country is on track to give the first injection of a two-dose vaccine against coronavirus to its entire population by the end of June.
Authorities have reported a sharp drop in the number of infections in recent days, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce a possible easing of restrictions this month.
But on Wednesday, Shapps urged caution about travel plans for this year and advised people not to book holidays in Britain or abroad. “Unfortunately, I can’t give you a definite ‘will or will not’ opportunity to take a vacation,” he told Sky News.
Shapps’s warning came a day after authorities announced new travel restrictions, including prison terms of up to 10 years for anyone traveling to Britain and lying about where he was.
Mr Shapps called the measures, including the prison sentence, “appropriate”. Under other restrictions that are expected to take effect on Monday, British residents arriving in England from more than 30 countries where coronavirus variants are widespread will have to pay up to 1,750 pounds ($ 2,410) for a quarantine of 10 days in government-run hotel rooms.
Britain reported 114,000 deaths from coronavirus, the fifth highest number of deaths known in the world.
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