France will LIFT travel ban on vaccinated travellers from Britain

The ski season is back on for snow-deprived Britons as France said it will lift its ban on UK holidaymakers tomorrow.

Tourism Minister Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne said they will be allowed into the country following an outcry from struggling resorts.

Travellers who are fully vaccinated will be allowed to enter if they have evidence of a negative coronavirus test taken within 24 hours of departure.

The requirement to isolate on arrival will be scrapped.

The move was welcomed by tourist-starved resorts which had been begging President Emmanuel Macron to change his mind.

Meanwhile travel experts warned it may have come too late after doing ‘untold damage’ to businesses.

Travellers who are fully vaccinated will be allowed to enter if they have evidence of a negative coronavirus test taken within 24 hours of departure. Pictured: Mr Macron yesterday

3/3 SLIDES

Travel firms rejoin in news France is open to tourists from Britain: 

Travel firms were delighted with the change in rules from tomorrow.

Chris Logan, managing director of Britain’s biggest winter sports operator Crystal Ski, said: ‘Like the rest of the ski community, I’m delighted we’ll be able to hit the slopes in France once again.

‘It’s been a challenging start to the season with Switzerland and France both imposing short-term bans, and complex and ever-changing testing requirements.

‘But with the relaxation of UK testing and the Alps open to the UK again, I’m feeling really optimistic. We’ve seen a steady increase in searches and bookings in the last two weeks.

‘Bookings to France doubled yesterday even before the announcement and we would expect to see another very positive uptick now it’s official.’

He added: ‘The outlook is good, there are great deals available, so now is the time to book.’

Brittany Ferries CEO Christophe Mathieu described it as a ‘great relief’ and expressed hope that ‘we have seen the last border closure of the Covid crisis’.

He said: ‘We’ve all suffered enormously over the last two years. Healthcare professionals are exhausted and businesses in the travel sector have struggled to survive.

‘Thousands of Brittany Ferries passengers have been disrupted and millions of pounds in income has been lost as a consequence of draconian measures like border closures.’

Mr Mathieu went on to urge people to ’embrace’ coronavirus vaccines to ‘halt this cycle of pain and frustration’.

Abby Penlington, director at industry body Discover Ferries, said: ‘France is one of the most popular holiday destinations for Brits and traditionally January is a critical month for travel operators as people start to book summer holidays.

‘While the ferry industry has continued to operate essential services across the Channel while the border remained closed, we’re confident that its reopening will provide a much-needed uplift in bookings.’

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: ‘This is the positive news that skiers and snowboarders have been looking forward to, and the spike in bookings for ski flights has been both sharp and immediate.

‘The snow conditions in the French Alps are said to be excellent, meaning our customers are jumping at the chance to get back on the slopes.

‘We know how much our customers want to get back to the French Alps and we are very pleased to be flying them there again from next weekend onwards.

‘This is yet more great news for the travel industry and further reinforces our already strong belief that 2022 is a year to look forward to with real confidence.’

A spokesman for travel trade organisation Abta welcomed the decision by France to end its ban on UK tourists.

He said: ‘France is one of the most popular destinations for UK holidaymakers. Thousands of people head there for ski breaks at this time of year, so this will be a huge relief for customers with holidays booked there for the next few weeks, who have been waiting anxiously for news.

‘We are still waiting for more details from the French government on entry requirements such as the rules that will apply for children. Travellers should continue to monitor the Foreign Office travel advice.’ 

 

Mr Baptiste-Lemoyne tweeted on Thursday morning ‘we are relaxing entry conditions’.

The minister said the new measures would be published in an official decree on Friday, but were ‘immediately effective’.

Travel firms were elated with the move which will come as a major boost for an industry already battered by the pandemic.

Chris Logan, managing director of Britain’s biggest winter sports operator Crystal Ski, said: ‘Like the rest of the ski community, I’m delighted we’ll be able to hit the slopes in France once again.

‘It’s been a challenging start to the season with Switzerland and France both imposing short-term bans, and complex and ever-changing testing requirements.

‘But with the relaxation of UK testing and the Alps open to the UK again, I’m feeling really optimistic. We’ve seen a steady increase in searches and bookings in the last two weeks.

‘Bookings to France doubled yesterday even before the announcement and we would expect to see another very positive uptick now it’s official.’

He added: ‘The outlook is good, there are great deals available, so now is the time to book.’

Brittany Ferries CEO Christophe Mathieu described it as a ‘great relief’ and expressed hope that ‘we have seen the last border closure of the Covid crisis’.

He said: ‘We’ve all suffered enormously over the last two years. Healthcare professionals are exhausted and businesses in the travel sector have struggled to survive.

‘Thousands of Brittany Ferries passengers have been disrupted and millions of pounds in income has been lost as a consequence of draconian measures like border closures.’

Mr Mathieu went on to urge people to ’embrace’ coronavirus vaccines to ‘halt this cycle of pain and frustration’.

Abby Penlington, director at industry body Discover Ferries, said: ‘France is one of the most popular holiday destinations for Brits and traditionally January is a critical month for travel operators as people start to book summer holidays.

‘While the ferry industry has continued to operate essential services across the Channel while the border remained closed, we’re confident that its reopening will provide a much-needed uplift in bookings.’

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: ‘This is the positive news that skiers and snowboarders have been looking forward to, and the spike in bookings for ski flights has been both sharp and immediate.

‘The snow conditions in the French Alps are said to be excellent, meaning our customers are jumping at the chance to get back on the slopes.

‘We know how much our customers want to get back to the French Alps and we are very pleased to be flying them there again from next weekend onwards.

‘This is yet more great news for the travel industry and further reinforces our already strong belief that 2022 is a year to look forward to with real confidence.’

A spokesman for travel trade organisation Abta welcomed the decision by France to end its ban on UK tourists.

He said: ‘France is one of the most popular destinations for UK holidaymakers.

‘Thousands of people head there for ski breaks at this time of year, so this will be a huge relief for customers with holidays booked there for the next few weeks, who have been waiting anxiously for news.

‘We are still waiting for more details from the French government on entry requirements such as the rules that will apply for children.

‘Travellers should continue to monitor the Foreign Office travel advice.’




© Provided by Daily Mail
Travellers who are fully vaccinated will be allowed to enter if they have evidence of a negative coronavirus test taken within 24 hours of departure (file photo)

But experts warn it may be too late for some firms amid ‘untold damage’

Firms have faced ‘untold damage’ due to France’s ban on British tourists, travel experts warned.

Paul Charles, CEO of travel consultancy The PC Agency, told MailOnline: ‘At last France has reversed its damaging position on entry for UK visitors.

‘It is a policy which has wiped out holidays and family visits for so many people during the crucial Christmas and New Year period.

‘It hurt both UK and French citizens and has done untold damage to businesses, especially in the ski sector.

‘Border closures never, ever work – they don’t prevent infection spread and they don’t help economies.

‘The re-opening of borders from tomorrow will now enable things to pick up for the latter half of the ski season, as well as help families see each other again across France.

‘I hope the French look back at the policy and realise that it achieved absolutely nothing, apart from cause immense emotional and financial stress on both sides of the Channel.’

Head of The Points Guy UK Nicky Kelvin said: ‘The temporary ban on Brits travelling to France for non-essential reasons was incredibly disruptive for many.

‘The ban has been lifted just in time for would be skiers to take to the slopes as we come into peak skiing season.

‘It’s another win for the travel and tourism industry and a further sign that political leaders may now be more willing to take action in response to the pleas from businesses, especially as vaccination rates increase and the severity of the omicron variant remains relatively low for now.

‘Travellers should keep a very close eye the ever changing rules. You’ll still need to be fully vaccinated and present a negative test within 24 hours of your arrival to get into France.

‘These rules and the ability to enter France and other countries can change with little warning so it’s still important to have flexible or refundable bookings and have adequate insurance.’ 

Meanwhile travel experts also welcomed the changes but warned that they may have come too late.

Paul Charles, CEO of travel consultancy The PC Agency, told MailOnline: ‘At last France has reversed its damaging position on entry for UK visitors.

‘It is a policy which has wiped out holidays and family visits for so many people during the crucial Christmas and New Year period.

‘It hurt both UK and French citizens and has done untold damage to businesses, especially in the ski sector.

‘Border closures never, ever work – they don’t prevent infection spread and they don’t help economies.

‘The re-opening of borders from tomorrow will now enable things to pick up for the latter half of the ski season, as well as help families see each other again across France.

‘I hope the French look back at the policy and realise that it achieved absolutely nothing, apart from cause immense emotional and financial stress on both sides of the Channel.’

Head of The Points Guy UK Nicky Kelvin said: ‘The temporary ban on Brits travelling to France for non-essential reasons was incredibly disruptive for many.

‘The ban has been lifted just in time for would be skiers to take to the slopes as we come into peak skiing season.

‘It’s another win for the travel and tourism industry and a further sign that political leaders may now be more willing to take action in response to the pleas from businesses, especially as vaccination rates increase and the severity of the omicron variant remains relatively low for now.

‘Travellers should keep a very close eye the ever changing rules. You’ll still need to be fully vaccinated and present a negative test within 24 hours of your arrival to get into France.

‘These rules and the ability to enter France and other countries can change with little warning so it’s still important to have flexible or refundable bookings and have adequate insurance.’

Flights to Geneva – the closest airport to top resorts such as Val-d’Isère, Chamonix and Val Thorens – remained low at around £22 but were expected to rocket.

There are 2,179 flights with 367,164 flights scheduled in January between the two countries.

This figure is 144 per cent on the number for the same month last year, but is still down 67 per cent on the same time the year before.

There was widespread anger within the travel industry when France imposed travel restrictions in December because of spiralling Covid-19 rates in the UK.

But the French are themselves reporting new records of infection as the highly contagious Omicron variant sweeps across Europe.

A figure of 368,149 in France over 24 hours on Wednesday trumped a previous record of 332,252 set on January 5.

France’s seven-day moving average of cases was nearly 270,000, according to official figures.

British ministers had also privately accused Mr Macron of ‘playing politics’ by keeping the border closed, despite devastating economic results.

Travel and tourism accounted for 8.5 per cent of France’s gross domestic product in 2019, but fell to 4.7 per cent in 2020.

The British are normally the biggest foreign visitor group to Paris, and also swarm to the French Alps in the winter.

And the ski industry is now optimistic that the peak February period, which includes school half term holidays, could now be saved.

The UK eased its own travel restrictions last week.

People who are fully vaccinated no longer need to take a coronavirus test before they arrive in the UK, and can take a cheaper and quicker lateral flow test rather than a PCR test after they arrive.

The changes save a family of four around £300.

Skiline is one of many companies that has now put ski trips to France departing this Saturday back on sale.

It even issued a statement on the news earlier this week predicting the borders reopening.

The statement read: ‘We are expecting the French government to make an announcement this Wednesday to confirm that British vaccinated skiers can enter France from Saturday.’

The firm started selling spots on its trips though promised refunds should the borders not be open in time.

Meanwhile some companies accused Mr Macron of punishing the industry over worsening ties with Britain.

Francois Badjily, head of the Alpe d’Huez tourist office, suggested France was playing politics with the pandemic.

He said: ‘We have the impression that our industry is being made to pay the price for the poor relations between both countries right now, whether it’s about Brexit or fishing or whatever.’

Mr Badjily said the rules were incoherent because fully vaccinated tourists from other countries where the Omicron strain is already present are able to visit.

Alpe d’Huez draws a quarter of its visitors from the UK every year, and Mr Badjily added: ‘Why should a Briton who meets these criteria not be allowed to come, but the French and Belgians can?’

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Source: Thanks msn.com