Commenting on the government’s announcement of quarantine-free travel with a specified list of ‘low-risk’ countries, BCC Director General Dr Adam Marshall said: 

“Businesses will be pleased to see the back of the UK government’s damaging blanket quarantine policy, but they will also be asking a lot of questions about its replacement.

“It’s taken far too long for the exemption list to appear, and the fact that it does not initially apply to all four nations of the UK will put regional connectivity and regional economies at risk. Neither the process nor the outcome inspire confidence, either here at home or with our partners globally.

“While these changes will give some businesses a fighting chance to make up for months of lost income, the job is not yet done. This isn’t just about summer holidays. Ministers need to focus on restoring connections and confidence with key trading partners all across the world.”