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Summary
- The new regulation would apply for business travellers who come from countries outside the air bridge travel corridors that the UK had declared a few months ago.
- As per the new rule, the top businessmen visiting the country should ensure that their visit would create or preserve at least 50 jobs or bring in an investment of at least £100,000.
- These exemptions will become applicable from 5 December onwards.
The United Kingdom has decided to relax its quarantine rules for incoming business travellers who will be coming by air. This rule will be implemented from 5 December in a bid to facilitate business transactions which are important for the British economy revival. However, there is a pre-condition, the top businessmen travelling to the country must ensure that their business trip would result in a deal which creates or preserves at least 50 jobs or would lead to an investment or order of at least £100,000.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, while making the announcement, stated that we are allowing more businessmen to come in from other countries other than those covered in the air bridge travel corridor so that it can support jobs and help in economic revival. The new regulation is to come into effect from 5 December.
Business trips and revival
The UK, especially London, is an important trade and finance destination in the world. Thus, international business travel contributes significantly to its economy. There are several business transactions that were stalled since the ban on air travel was announced due to the pandemic.
Restarting business travel will allow these transactions to go forward, which in turn would lead to an increase in business activities. Business travellers are also a very important source of revenue for the city hotels and hospitality sector.
The government has also made performing artistes, TV production staff, journalists, and recently signed sports professionals’ part of this new exemption list.
The Air Bridges
Just after the first lockdown was lifted, the government had announced the Air Bridge Scheme, under which people from countries with whom the UK can sign business deals or enter into a bilateral agreement, were allowed to come to the country without the 14-day quarantine condition.
These rules were made to help the aviation and hospitality sectors but didnt help the business travellers who belonged to countries not covered under the scheme. But the new rule is aimed at covering those countries which are not in the list of the Air Bridge scheme.
Also Read: Aviation stocks jump as England halves the quarantine time for travellers
Economic recovery and the vaccine
The state of the British economy is in a brighter spot than what it was a few months ago. Air travel has picked up and most operators have started flying, though the passenger numbers are still nowhere close to where they were at this time last year.
The British government is set to start the vaccination process for the pandemic by next week of December. The fear levels in people are expected to go down after that, which could result in the increased air travel and business activities.
