English seeking sunshine abroad face hefty new fines

[snoop1130]

FILE PHOTO: Travellers walk through Terminal 2 at Heathrow Airport, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in London, Britain February 14, 2021. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls/File photo

 

LONDON (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".

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-03-23

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[473geo]

I flew on the 21st  March ???? Just lucky I guess

[smedly]

6 hours ago, 473geo said:

I flew on the 21st  March ???? Just lucky I guess

are you on furlough ?

 

do you need to go back at some point 

 

hope you get away with it and maybe they will not check on your return - but they likely will

 

good luck mate, not sure why you would risk such a thing - what was wrong with Blackpool lol 

[impulse]

Seems like if you can afford a private jet, the fine isn't going to slow you down. 

 

They need to add some time in the hoosgaw if they're going to make it fair.  Otherwise, the rich get to travel while the peasants are stuck at home.

 

But I'd rather they do some analysis on the plethora of data from around the world to see if shutting down is really helping.  Perfect example is the USA, with each of the 50 states having their own rules, with counties and municipalities within the states having different regulations.  That's a lot of unofficial experiments to digest.  (And not just one analysis, which is easy to take out of context.  Let's look at a deep dive of all the data)

 

As a whole, the USA stunk up the place.  But did New York, with its tight restrictions, do better than Florida, with much looser rules?  And are places with open schools doing better than places where the schools remain shut? 

 

The answer may be that shutting down and bankrupting millions is the way to go.  But let's see the analysis.

[Scott]

Off-topic post removed.  

 

[473geo]

I am most likely not going back if accepted for marriage extension

Here is my view

On the UK declaration form I put a tick in the box that said Medical and other compassionate reasons

I put my Thai address in the address box

Reason- redundancy returning to family

I have a 60 day tourist visa

I had previously filled out UK declaration online form but quickly did a hard copy at the check in desk

Carried my yellow book and pink ID card as back up for my Thai address

Was not questioned at all

Having started the process including ticket purchase in January I figured I would be allowed to get on the plane, if the rules become law then draconian intervention is possible, so that is where I have been lucky I guess

[RuamRudy]

8 hours ago, impulse said:

Seems like if you can afford a private jet, the fine isn't going to slow you down. 

 

They need to add some time in the hoosgaw if they're going to make it fair.  Otherwise, the rich get to travel while the peasants are stuck at home.

 

 

 

Did you really expect anything else from the UK?

 

Covid travel rules will include 'Stanley Johnson loophole' for second homes

[Mises]

8 hours ago, impulse said:

Seems like if you can afford a private jet, the fine isn't going to slow you down. 

 

 

 

You can also leave if you need to prepare a home owned abroad for sale or rent

[robertson468]

Your title should read "British", not English.  C'mon TV wake up!

[473geo]

2 minutes ago, robertson468 said:

Your title should read "British", not English.  C'mon TV wake up!

England only for now other UK nations have not implemented

[BritManToo]

10 minutes ago, robertson468 said:

Your title should read "British", not English.  C'mon TV wake up!

I believe the ban is only for England, so English would be correct.

Can't believe England has become such a horrid place to live.

[connda]

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

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.

The New Normal will be a new normal form of totalitarianism dressed in liberal Democracy's clothing - for good - for your safety of course.

[Aomelia]

Just remember what country destroyed the economy and your Holidays Boycott China 

[blazes]

Since all the evidence we have after one year suggests that there is virtually no difference in outcome between lockdowns and easy-does-it, with citizens being left to show common sense (masks, distance, hand-washing etc), it would seem that the American "chaos" is probably the best way to go. 

Let every municipality, county and state choose for itself the best way to go.  (Unless of course you live in California or Michigan or New York, where the governors have behaved abominably and, above all, with hypocricy.)

 

[Kadilo]

It’s not the end of the world. We need to let the other countries play catch up with their vaccination programs. 

[impulse]

11 hours ago, Mises said:

You can also leave if you need to prepare a home owned abroad for sale or rent

 

I don't have the same issue with that, as long as you can leave to go to a foreign job or other good reason.  

 

My issue is that, without a custodial consequence, rich folk could look at any fine as just an added cost of breaking the law and going on holiday.  If you're already spending over $100K on a private jet and hotel in some exotic locale, what's the big deal about paying another $7,000 in fines? 

 

Add a month in the hoosgaw, and it equalizes the playing field for all.