In response to the suspension of flights to the UK from South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibia, and the addition of these countries to the red list, an ABTA spokesperson said:

“While ABTA has always maintained that public health must take priority and we recognise why this decision has been made, this news will be devastating for many travel companies that specialise in travel to the Southern African countries affected. These businesses have had very little opportunity to generate income for almost two years and now face a further period of being unable to trade – just as the region’s peak season begins. The Government must consider stepping in to provide targeted support where precautionary measures such as these close UK travel businesses, as they have done previously for other sectors of the economy. It is also vital the decision is kept under careful review and that restrictions are lifted promptly if it becomes clear there is not a risk to the UK vaccination programme.”