Derry-based Gallagher Travel
Gallagher Travel says that while it is reporting an increase in bookings for later this year and 2022, the lack of information around arrangements for the North of Ireland has left customers unable to book for later this summer.
The new process – a ‘traffic light system’ – detailing the rules for people returning from overseas visits is expected from Downing Street later this week.
There will be different regulations depending on the country being visited, with a red, amber and green system in place.
While the ban on foreign holidays for those living in England is expected to be lifted in some form from May 17, the Stormont Executive has yet to give any indicative date.
Stormont’s Department of Health said while the traffic light system and May 17 date “apply to England only”, it was “broadly supportive” of the Global Travel Taskforce recommendations which are guiding the Government’s approach.
It said the department was “working with colleagues across the four nations to seek alignment where possible to support a return to international travel”.
Health Minister Robin Swann previously said that foreign travel should be ruled out for this summer.
Gallagher Travel managing director Heather Fielding said there was “frustration” within the industry around the lack of clarity.
“It’s encouraging we may see some countries opening up, but we still don’t know. We were just told it’s going to be this traffic light system,” she said.
“There’s a lot of question marks. For us it’s quite frustrating at the minute because we’re so close, but we don’t have the answers for our customers.
Gallagher Travel managing director Heather Fielding
“For me it doesn’t make sense not to, we all need to be singing from the same hymn sheet, including the Republic of Ireland.”
Mrs Fielding said there was a large “pent-up demand” for foreign holidays.
“We’ve got people who are saying to us: ‘If and when we can book, we will book last minute’,” she said. “Because we don’t know the answers, you’re almost over-negative. We’re trying to plan for every scenario.”
She noted there were also concerns around how Covid testing would work for those going on holiday and how much the tests would cost.
“We need to see some form of travel going this year for our industry, we’ve had 14-15 months of no travel, barring sporadic periods,” she added.
“We can’t do that again, the industry can’t take it, we need to move forward.”
There were no further coronavirus deaths reported here yesterday.
Officials said 83 new local cases of the virus had been confirmed in the previous 24 hours.
Twenty of those were reported in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area.
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