So how does a tourist board make plans during a global health crisis, with the rules and politics and science of the unprecedented pandemic not only uncertain, but constantly changing? “I think,” understates British Tourism Authority (BTA) chair Patrick McLoughlin, “it is with great difficulty!”
But speaking to Travel Industry Today from the UK on Tuesday during the annual (though virtual) ExploreGB travel trade show, McLoughlin was quick to add, “I think the truth is, we are now seeing remarkable progress in the United Kingdom.”
Citing the vaccinations already of 20 million Brits (one of the highest rates in the word) – himself included – the BTA chief says has the country has made great strides, which will only hasten a return of international travel.
“I think the whole world is learning, and we’re seeing with the rollout of the vaccination… a very positive effect,” he says.
And while the current conditions of the pandemic are varied and ever-changing, he maintains, “We have got to start planning. We’ve got to start saying, you know we’ve gone through something which nobody 18 months ago had any idea what was around the corner, and we’ve learned from it.”
To that end, McLoughlin says it’s important for governments to set out a road map for their citizens to follow, but also for global co-ordination, noting of the latter that a global travel report is expected to come out in April.
But he adds that the greatest challenge is that “once we start on the roadmap, we don’t have to go back. We’ve had situations where we’ve had lockdown and then we’ve had to go back.”
Each country will set its protocols according to its own medical advice, he says, but he believes Britain’s ongoing vaccination success has put the country well on the way to be being able to provide a safe environment for visitors when they are able to ready and able to travel again.
“We want to make sure that whatever we do in future gives the reassurance to Canadians who are travelling that it is safe to do so,” he says. “So that is going to be uppermost in our minds, and I think it is going to be uppermost in the minds of Canadian travellers – they will want reassurance that vaccination levels are up to a certain factor and that they’ve been successful.”
McLoughlin says Britain is “hopeful” that Prime Minister Trudeau will attend the G7 conference in Cornwall in June, which will be a measure of validation that the UK is safe for travel.
“As we see the vaccination spread out… people will get confidence back,” he says, noting that while he is personally inclined to believe that vaccination passports for travellers would be a “way forward,” that Britain will base its acceptance of the idea on the results of the recommendations of a government task force currently studying the issue.
One thing that travellers will not have to fear is Brexit, says McLoughlin, despite the prevalent perception that Britain’s exit from the European Union has caused disruptions and shortages of some products.
“Brexit is something we’ve decided is going to happen, there was a referendum… so, we are enjoying our new status. Yes, it’s a change, but you don’t notice any fish and chip shops not selling fish, I can assure you of that… I can assure you, you can get all your medication in Britain!”
To that end, and with the eventual success of efforts to overcome the pandemic, McLoughlin says, “I think by later this year, and 2022 as well, it’s going to be a fantastic year to come to the United Kingdom.
“We’re on top of our game to welcome Canadians back.”