COVID-19: MPs criticize lack of details on vacation abroad – and ask for more by end of month | Political news

MEPs accused the government of a “missed opportunity” by failing to give more detailed plans on how Britons might enjoy holidays abroad this summer.

According to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s roadmap to lifting lockdown restrictions, international travel will not be allowed until May 17.

In a report earlier this month, the government’s Global Travel Taskforce confirmed plans for a traffic light system, with countries split between “green”, “orange” and “red” destinations.

According to the proposals, different travel restrictions would be applied to each category of countries, which would be determined based on their perceived COVID risk.

Travel without quarantine would be allowed to “green” countries, while 10-day isolation periods would be required for those returning from “orange” destinations, and a 10-day hotel quarantine period would be mandatory for those returning from “orange” destinations. returning from “red” countries.

However, the House of Commons transport committee has now criticized the task force report for the lack of details needed to resume international travel.

He said international travel had its “wings cut” by the “cautious” report.

The committee concluded: “Given the urgent and existential threat to the UK aviation and travel sectors posed by the coronavirus pandemic, the Global Travel Taskforce report failed to strike that balance. because it did not contain enough detail to allow businesses to prepare, and travelers to commit, for the safely restarted international travel scheduled for May 17. “

MPs also found that, even when details are provided, the costs can be disproportionate to the risk and add £ 500 to the cost of a family of four traveling to the safest parts of the world where the vaccine rolls out is comparable to the UK. .

According to the task force’s plans, a pre-departure coronavirus test would be required before heading to a “green” country, with a PCR test required no later than …