Thousands of travel jobs at risk as no more countries added to holiday green list

Today the government removed Portugal from the green to amber list and no more holiday destinations were added.

The travel industry has been given a huge blow on Thursday which now threatens the recovery of the travel sector and thousands of jobs could now be potentially be at risk.

The decision made today over Portugal will effect millions of Brits who had booked holidays and thousands who are already on holiday in the country.

Paul Charles, chief executive of the travel PR company PC Agency, has slammed the government’ for not adding any more countries to the green travel list.

Charles said, “I think it’s a terrible decision that threatens jobs and recovery in the travel sector.

“It shows little awareness of the safe destinations globally and is at odds with how citizens from other countries such as America are travelling.”

The vice president of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) said today’s news is a “huge disappointment” for the travel and tourism industry.

Virginia Messina, WTTC Senior Vice President said,, “The World Travel and Tourism Council shares the huge disappointment of travel and tourism businesses up and down the country, as well as that of holidaymakers, that the government has once again cold-shouldered travel and tourism by refusing to add any new destinations to the already slim green list.”

The Caribbean nation of Granada, which is also a favorite hotspot for Brits was not added to the green list today which will be a “huge blow.”

Grenada’s minister for tourism Dr Clarice Modeste Curwen said, “We are extremely disappointed that Grenada was not added to the UK’s green list,” she said.

“It’s a huge blow for both holidaymakers and the travel and tourism sector.

“Grenada has had just 161 cases of Covid-19 since the onset of the pandemic and we have reported zero new cases locally since February.

“We’re proud to have successfully started rebuilding our tourism sector and welcoming back travellers from overseas while continuing to sustain no new cases of the virus, with 65% of visitors already vaccinated prior to arrival.

“We strongly believe that Grenada should be added to the UK’s green list as we have taken all the necessary measures to ensure the islands are safe and ready for visitors.”