Brittany Ferries has accused transport secretary Grant Shapps of going over the top when he told the nation not to book a holiday.
The French-owned firm, which sails to the continent from Plymouth and Portsmouth, said Mr Shapps鈥 advise against booking a summer holiday was 鈥渄isproportionate鈥 and likely to discourage people from taking breaks.
The firm said that making such a statement in February was 鈥渦nnecessary and over-cautious鈥 and highlighted the progress made by vaccination programmes in France and the 海角视频.
Mr Shapps,, said it was 鈥渢oo soon鈥 for people to begin booking summer holidays and said: 鈥淔irst of all, I should say, people shouldn鈥檛 be booking holidays right now 鈥 not domestically or internationally.鈥
He said Prime Minister Boris Johnson will say more about 鈥渦nlocking this country鈥 on February 22 but added: 鈥淲e don鈥檛 know yet whether that will include information on things like holidays, simply because we don鈥檛 know where we鈥檒l be up to in terms of the decline in cases, deaths, vaccination.
鈥淎nd not just the vaccination programme here, but the vaccination programme internationally, because people will be going outside of our borders. So it鈥檚 too soon.鈥
Brittany Ferries, whose 海角视频 headquarters are in Plymouth, immediately reacted to the statement and called for the Government to put forward a clear strategy and roadmap for an exit from strict travel controls which now mean anyone who has to travel must quarantine for 10 days on returning to the 海角视频 having provided a negative Covid test within 72 hours of their journey. Those arriving from a 鈥渞ed list鈥 of 33 countries must also now quarantine in a hotel at a cost of 拢1,750.
Brittany Ferries arriving in the 海角视频 from France and Spain.
It said has said it is facing the worst crisis in its 47-year existence, and losing cash at a greater rate than following the 2008 financial crisis.
It said it recognises the challenges the Government faces in controlling the virus and protecting the health of the nation 鈥 which must be its priority 鈥 but said Mr Shapps鈥 comments on Radio 4 were 鈥渄isproportionate鈥.
A spokesperson said: 鈥淔or many listeners the comments may have discouraged any plans for a holiday abroad this summer, just when storm clouds appear to be clearing. Vaccine roll-out is moving apace in the 海角视频, thanks to the NHS, volunteers and support of the armed forces.
鈥淎nd while countries which Brittany Ferries serves, like France, are a little behind, the ramp-up is gaining significant momentum there too.
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鈥淔rench Health Minister Olivier V茅ran confirmed that four million people would be vaccinated by the end of February, rising to 43million by the end of June.
鈥淭hat means around 80% of the French adult population should be vaccinated well ahead of the summer holiday season. In the 海角视频 meanwhile, all over-50s are due to receive the vaccine by the end of May.
鈥淭hese are of course projections. Brittany Ferries acknowledges the Covid crisis is fluid, and circumstances may change. But, as of today, the vaccine roll-out programme should be an opportunity to present hope and optimism for a brighter summer ahead.鈥
The company also stressed that it offered flexible booking options with the promise of options such as refunds and easy schedule changes if Government advice were to change.
鈥淪o dissuading everyone from booking a summer holiday abroad in mid-February seems unnecessary and over-cautious,鈥 the spokesman said.
鈥淓choing the wider travel industry, Brittany Ferries also calls on the Government for a clear strategy and roadmap for a pragmatic, co-ordinated exit from strict travel controls and a pathway towards safe travel this summer as vaccines are rolled out and the health situation improves on both sides of the Channel. This solution could include measures such as safe travel corridors, testing, and (potentially) vaccine passports.鈥
