{"id":28676,"date":"2021-09-09T11:09:30","date_gmt":"2021-09-09T10:09:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bluebaytravel.co.uk\/blog\/?p=28676"},"modified":"2021-09-13T09:20:25","modified_gmt":"2021-09-13T08:20:25","slug":"travel-confidence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bluebaytravel.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/09\/travel-confidence\/","title":{"rendered":"Holi-dazed and Confused: Why Jamaica And The Maldives Prove The Traffic Light System Was A Catastrophe"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_56_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\" role=\"button\"><label for=\"item-69e6972eae68a\" ><span class=\"\"><span style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input aria-label=\"Toggle\" aria-label=\"item-69e6972eae68a\"  type=\"checkbox\" id=\"item-69e6972eae68a\"><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/bluebaytravel.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/09\/travel-confidence\/#Sources_across_the_media_are_reporting_the_traffic_light_system_could_be_scrapped_on_October_1_But_well_show_how_in_post-pandemic_Britain_travel_confidence_has_been_brought_to_its_knees_by_a_combination_of_complicated_rules_and_frustrating_governmental_flip-flopping\" title=\"Sources across the media are reporting the traffic light system could be scrapped on October 1. But, we&#8217;ll show how, in post-pandemic Britain, travel confidence has been brought to its knees\u00a0by a combination of complicated rules and frustrating governmental flip-flopping.\">Sources across the media are reporting the traffic light system could be scrapped on October 1. But, we&#8217;ll show how, in post-pandemic Britain, travel confidence has been brought to its knees\u00a0by a combination of complicated rules and frustrating governmental flip-flopping.<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/bluebaytravel.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/09\/travel-confidence\/#Pandemic_overview\" title=\"Pandemic overview\">Pandemic overview<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/bluebaytravel.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/09\/travel-confidence\/#Traffic_lights_taskforces_and_testing_debacles\" title=\"Traffic lights, taskforces, and testing debacles\">Traffic lights, taskforces, and testing debacles<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/bluebaytravel.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/09\/travel-confidence\/#Testing_trauma\" title=\"Testing trauma\">Testing trauma<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/bluebaytravel.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/09\/travel-confidence\/#The_worlds_most_colourful_traffic_light\" title=\"The world&#8217;s most colourful traffic light\">The world&#8217;s most colourful traffic light<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/bluebaytravel.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/09\/travel-confidence\/#So_what_about_Jamaica_The_Maldives\" title=\"So what about Jamaica &amp; The Maldives?\">So what about Jamaica &amp; The Maldives?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/bluebaytravel.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/09\/travel-confidence\/#Jamaica\" title=\"Jamaica\">Jamaica<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/bluebaytravel.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/09\/travel-confidence\/#Maldives\" title=\"Maldives\">Maldives<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/bluebaytravel.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/09\/travel-confidence\/#In_conclusion\" title=\"In conclusion\">In conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sources_across_the_media_are_reporting_the_traffic_light_system_could_be_scrapped_on_October_1_But_well_show_how_in_post-pandemic_Britain_travel_confidence_has_been_brought_to_its_knees_by_a_combination_of_complicated_rules_and_frustrating_governmental_flip-flopping\"><\/span>Sources across the media are reporting the traffic light system could be scrapped on October 1. But, we&#8217;ll show how, in post-pandemic Britain, travel confidence has been brought to its knees\u00a0by a combination of complicated rules and frustrating governmental flip-flopping.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><!--more-->Rumours across the travel industry are reporting <strong>the <a title=\"Traffic Light System \u201cComing To An End\u201d According To Reports\" href=\"https:\/\/bluebaytravel.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/09\/traffic-light-system-coming-to-an-end\/\" target=\"_blank\">traffic light system could be brought to an end in October<\/a><\/strong>. With a system based more on traveller vaccination status being preferred instead.<\/p>\n<p>But through a lack of strong governmental guidance and confusing double standards, which can be showcased by looking at the Maldives and Jamaica, British travel confidence is at an all-time low.<\/p>\n<p>So,<strong> how did we get here and what do those two nations have to do with it?<\/strong> Let&#8217;s take a look back at how Brits wound up so in the dark when it comes to getting some sun.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_28575\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-28575\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-28575\" src=\"https:\/\/blogimg.bluebaytravel.co.uk\/uploads\/2021\/07\/woman-airport.jpg\" alt=\"woman in a mask standing with her luggage in an airport\" width=\"800\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bluebaytravel.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/woman-airport.jpg 800w, https:\/\/bluebaytravel.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/woman-airport-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-28575\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">How did we get so confused about travel?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pandemic_overview\"><\/span>Pandemic overview<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Throughout the UK&#8217;s pandemic response, <strong>travel has been one of the hardest-hit sectors<\/strong>. But, where other industries received packages of tailored support, a sector that creates around 10% of Britain&#8217;s GDP was left to fend for itself. And in many ways, is still being told to do so.<\/p>\n<p>In a recent story for The Times, Chris Haslam talked about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetimes.co.uk\/travel\/holiday-types\/comment\/decisions-that-killed-off-post-pandemic-travel?fbclid=IwAR1og0hoE9LIr0MRqaDtTGQOGLKrLnNFoj7G0oHAM50gzSIwcfNoafM_g1g\" target=\"_blank\">eight decisions that killed off post-pandemic travel<\/a>. However, we\u00a0think the confusing nature of governmental advice can be summed up by the fortunes of two nations in particular: <strong>Jamaica and The Maldives<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>But <strong>where did it all go wrong in the first place?<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_28677\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-28677\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-28677 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/blogimg.bluebaytravel.co.uk\/uploads\/2021\/09\/travel-confusion.jpg\" alt=\"travel-confusion\" width=\"800\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bluebaytravel.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/travel-confusion.jpg 800w, https:\/\/bluebaytravel.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/travel-confusion-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-28677\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Brits are being put off travelling thanks to mixed government messaging<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Traffic_lights_taskforces_and_testing_debacles\"><\/span>Traffic lights, taskforces, and testing debacles<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Way back in October 2020 Matt Hancock and Grant Shapps announced the formation of a <strong>Global Travel Taskforce<\/strong> (GTF) who were set the target of developing<strong> &#8220;<\/strong><span style=\"color: #1d1d1b;\"><strong>a global framework to make travelling easier&#8221;<\/strong>. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #1d1d1b;\">The industry took a cautious sigh of relief at this point, thinking everything would be under control and a safe, balanced system would be implemented. What we got instead was a series of confusing updates and changeable information.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>However, it wasn&#8217;t all bad for the GTF. They did give us the<strong> <a title=\"Everything you need to know about the COVID Test and Release System\" href=\"https:\/\/bluebaytravel.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/01\/test-and-release\/\" target=\"_blank\">Test to Release system<\/a> <\/strong>which would enable travellers from amber list countries, on the later announced <a title=\"Everything You Need To Know About The Government\u2019s Traffic Light System (Updated August 2021)\" href=\"https:\/\/bluebaytravel.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/08\/travel-traffic-light-system-explained\/\" target=\"_blank\">traffic light system<\/a>, to cut short their quarantine time on their return to the UK.<\/p>\n<p>Which brings us to our next couple of confusions, testing and traffic lights. At many points in the plan for post-pandemic travel life, these two elements would sit hand in hand.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_28350\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-28350\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-28350\" src=\"https:\/\/blogimg.bluebaytravel.co.uk\/uploads\/2020\/12\/boris-johnson.jpg\" alt=\"Boris Johnson announced new Coronavirus restrictions recently\" width=\"800\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bluebaytravel.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/boris-johnson.jpg 800w, https:\/\/bluebaytravel.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/boris-johnson-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-28350\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The government&#8217;s Global Travel Taskforce was implemented to plot a safe return to travel. Image: Flickr: Pippa Fowler<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Testing_trauma\"><\/span>Testing trauma<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>One major barrier to creating a return to travel that worked for all has been the cost of testing. Because there were no initial regulations surrounding pricing and test quality, seemingly, anyone with a passable amount of space could set up a test centre and<strong> charge made-up fees<\/strong>. This debacle resulted in test costs ranging from\u00a0<span style=\"color: #1d1d1b;\">\u00a350 to \u00a3399 depending on supplier.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Some destinations need PCR tests to be completed before travel and on arrival. Couple this with the UK&#8217;s own entry requirements which include at least two tests for those returning from green list nations &#8211; whether vaccinated or not. The unfortunate upshot was <strong>families\u00a0saw the cost of their break rise exponentially<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Sajid Javid has now called for an audit on test charges, which could mean prices are brought more in-line and subsequently regulated. But while checks will be made on testing, one source of constant confusion remains &#8211; the traffic light system.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_28679\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-28679\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-28679\" src=\"https:\/\/blogimg.bluebaytravel.co.uk\/uploads\/2021\/09\/covid-test.jpg\" alt=\"COVID tests\" width=\"800\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bluebaytravel.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/covid-test.jpg 800w, https:\/\/bluebaytravel.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/covid-test-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-28679\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Testing has been another controversial topic in the travel reopening issue<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_worlds_most_colourful_traffic_light\"><\/span>The world&#8217;s most colourful traffic light<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It may be, seemingly, on its way out. But for months the government&#8217;s traffic light system encouraged confusion and, ultimately, damaged travel confidence in the UK. But let&#8217;s go back to where it all began for this maligned framework.<\/p>\n<p>Prior to the traffic light system,\u00a0the Department for Transport\u00a0implemented a series of &#8220;travel corridors&#8221; which allowed UK residents quarantine-free travel to nearly 60 countries. But when <strong>Spain&#8217;s corridor was removed with just six hours<\/strong> <strong>notice,\u00a0<\/strong>chaos ensued at the airports and the corridors were binned. Replaced by the, just as confusing, traffic light system.<\/p>\n<p>On the face of it, the system would offer clear guidance on which countries Brits could\u00a0holiday in and what was required, from a testing perspective, on your return to the UK. The government outlined that the designation of a country would depend on a world of different data. <strong>Local infection rates, vaccination uptake, and genomic sequencing\u00a0<\/strong>to check for other variants of concern were just some of the criteria put in place.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_28680\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-28680\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-28680\" src=\"https:\/\/blogimg.bluebaytravel.co.uk\/uploads\/2021\/09\/traffic-light-2.jpg\" alt=\"traffic lights\" width=\"800\" height=\"399\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bluebaytravel.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/traffic-light-2.jpg 800w, https:\/\/bluebaytravel.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/traffic-light-2-300x149.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-28680\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The government have managed to create the world&#8217;s most complicated traffic light system<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>However what we received was a traffic light which, at one point, had five colours: red, amber-plus, amber, green watchlist, and green. As well as, seemingly, not utilising its own rules when categorising countries, while <strong>just\u00a0<\/strong><span style=\"color: #1d1d1b;\"><strong>5 per cent of test results were genomically sequenced in the first three weeks of July<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Not to mention the fact that<strong> the traffic light system seemed to work completely independently to the FCDO advice<\/strong>, the source used by insurance companies when deciding whether to provide travel cover &#8211; but more on that in a second.<\/p>\n<p>On top of all that,\u00a0countries then seemed to change colour at the drop of a hat. One example happened when Portugal was added to the <a title=\"Which Countries Are On The Red, Amber and Green Lists: A Definitive Guide (Updated 27 August)\" href=\"https:\/\/bluebaytravel.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/08\/red-amber-green-lists-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\">green list<\/a> on 3 May, just in time for the Champions League football final. Only to be turned back to amber, without warning, on 3 June. This alteration, again, caused panic at the borders and resulted in a mad dash for flights back to the UK ahead of the hastily announced deadline.<\/p>\n<p>But these issues with country classification have continued to dog the much-maligned system. Let&#8217;s look at <strong>how Jamaica and The Maldives prove the system didn&#8217;t follow its own parameters<\/strong> for movement.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"So_what_about_Jamaica_The_Maldives\"><\/span>So what about Jamaica &amp; The Maldives?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The traffic light system is so veiled in vaguery it&#8217;s no wonder traveller&#8217;s confidence has been knocked. In fact, even <strong>travel update announcements<\/strong> pertaining to changes in the system have become a guessing game as to a) when the update will come? &#8211; after we&#8217;ve seen announcements in the morning, at 5pm, and even at 10pm b) what will be in the update? c) will it come via a television announcement or consigned to 280 characters on Twitter, like a throwback to Trump-times.<\/p>\n<p>But, when the updates have come, the overriding\u00a0message\u00a0is generally underwhelming. Many try, every three weeks, to guess or assess through numbers what will happen. However, more often than not, the estimates and experts are wrong.<\/p>\n<p>This boils down to one key issue &#8211; transparency. <strong>How can we trust a system, when we don&#8217;t know how it works?<\/strong> There&#8217;s been precious little confirmation from Number 10 surrounding how nations are classified on the list. Jamaica and the Maldives are testaments to that fact.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_28681\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-28681\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-28681\" src=\"https:\/\/blogimg.bluebaytravel.co.uk\/uploads\/2021\/09\/jamaica-or-maldive.jpg\" alt=\"Jamaican beach scene\" width=\"800\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bluebaytravel.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/jamaica-or-maldive.jpg 800w, https:\/\/bluebaytravel.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/jamaica-or-maldive-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-28681\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jamaica and the Maldives have been harshly treated<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Jamaica\"><\/span>Jamaica<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Like many places across the world, COVID case rates in Jamaica have fluctuated over the past year. But the island has <strong>only recorded a total of 72,824 cases and 1,646 deaths*<\/strong> since the start of the pandemic. Nevertheless, Jamaica still finds itself on the amber list.<\/p>\n<p>Whereas, European destinations like Denmark (350k cases and 2,594 deaths*), Croatia (379k cases and 8,385 deaths*) and Germany (4.04 million cases and 92,463 deaths*) have since been added to the green list. More confusing still, when it comes to Jamaica, the government have their reasons for keeping them on the amber list (which we&#8217;ll probably never know). However, <strong>the current <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice\/jamaica\" target=\"_blank\">FCDO advice for Jamaica<\/a> is cautioning against &#8220;all but essential travel&#8221;<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>That FCDO advice means insurance companies will not cover trips to the island,<strong> but the government&#8217;s own system is saying that this destination is safe to visit<\/strong>. It&#8217;s easy to see why we&#8217;re getting increasingly baffled.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, those numbers around infection and death rates look even more confusing when you consider a country like India which was ravaged by the virus. India has recorded 33.1 million cases and 441k deaths* since the start of the pandemic and <strong>still sit second on the list of most cases and deaths per country<\/strong>. However, in a baffling twist, one of the more recent announcements saw India moved from the red to the amber list.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Maldives\"><\/span>Maldives<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yet, since the start of the pandemic, The Maldives who have seen<strong> just <\/strong><span style=\"color: #202124;\"><strong>82,264 cases and only 227 deaths*<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>find themselves on the UK&#8217;s red list.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to boasting low infection and death rates, the Maldives can also claim to have fully vaccinated over half its population. In fact, as <strong>of 5 September, the Maldives had vaccinated 57% of its population, while 73%\u00a0have received\u00a0their first jab<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Concern over the Maldives may, previously, have been due to its proximity to India. But that must now be reconsidered. Another factor in keeping the atolls in the red is the ability for visitors to spread the virus across a wide area of islands via boat tours. However, the main concept behind taking an idyllic break to the Maldives is its rustic charm. Open-air bars and restaurants are prevalent in the country, even most resort en-suite bathrooms are open to the elements to some degree.<\/p>\n<p>You have to feel that this open-air culture, coupled with their low cases and rising vaccination rate, <strong>the islands should definitely not be held on the red list any longer<\/strong>. Surely we&#8217;ve gone beyond the realms of safety first.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_28682\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-28682\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-28682\" src=\"https:\/\/blogimg.bluebaytravel.co.uk\/uploads\/2021\/09\/maldives-2.jpg\" alt=\"The Maldives\" width=\"800\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bluebaytravel.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/maldives-2.jpg 800w, https:\/\/bluebaytravel.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/maldives-2-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-28682\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Who doesn&#8217;t want the Maldives to be accessible as early as possible?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"In_conclusion\"><\/span>In conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>There can be no doubt,<strong> travel\u00a0confidence in UK has been dealt a hammer blow<\/strong> of late. The constant rule changes and lack of transparency coming from those making the decisions is damaging the industry further.<\/p>\n<p>With tailored assistance looking like being withheld, it seems <strong>many more travel businesses are doomed to fail<\/strong> before the end of the year.<\/p>\n<p>While <strong>Blue Bay remain in a strong condition<\/strong>, we can&#8217;t help but look out across the industry landscape and feel for our holiday brethren.<\/p>\n<p>Never before has the sector faced adversity like this, especially with such a lack of forthcoming governmental guidance or support. With that in mind, there&#8217;s never been a better time to get your holiday in the books and support your local agent. Because the final insult to the industry would be <strong>a lack of product and soaring flight prices,<\/strong> resulting in us falling further behind the rest of the world&#8217;s tourism offering.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sources across the media are reporting the traffic light system could be scrapped on October 1. But, we&#8217;ll show how, in post-pandemic Britain, travel confidence has been brought to its knees\u00a0by a combination of complicated rules and frustrating governmental flip-flopping.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":101,"featured_media":28577,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[579],"tags":[1741,1770,1777,1761,1776],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Is Travel Confidence Gone? Government&#039;s Mixed Messaging Summed In Up Two Countries<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The government&#039;s baffling traffic light system may be coming to an end. But here&#039;s why Jamaica and Maldives prove the nation&#039;s travel confidence is shot\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/bluebaytravel.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/09\/travel-confidence\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Is Travel Confidence Gone? Government&#039;s Mixed Messaging Summed In Up Two Countries\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The government&#039;s baffling traffic light system may be coming to an end. 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