‘Travelers are not felons,’ says industry in response to UK penalties

The European tourism industry “strongly” condemned the U.K. government for setting new laws under which people who break coronavirus travel rules could go to jail.

“We must put a stop to placing the act of travelling in the same category as severe criminal offences,” the European Travel Commission (ETC), an association of national tourism groups, said in a statement today.

Under the new measures announced Tuesday, travelers found in breach of the rules face hefty fines, and lying on a passenger locator form could lead to a prison sentence of up to 10 years, the government said. “I make no apologies for the strength of these measures,” Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the U.K. parliament.

But ETC President Luís Araújo said travelers should not face legal repercussions for returning home: “Travellers are not felons.”

Not all U.K. ministers support the plans, and critics say the strong-handed approach is disproportionate and won’t be enforced by courts. “Ten years is the maximum sentence for threats to kill, non-fatal poisoning or indecent assault,” Lord Jonathan Sumption, a former Supreme Court judge, wrote in the Telegraph.

“Does Mr Hancock really think that non-disclosure of a visit to Portugal is worse than the large number of violent firearms offences or sexual offences involving minors, for which the maximum is seven years?” Sumption wrote.

The travel industry has repeatedly said blanket restrictions are of little use in countries with a high circulation of the virus.

A combination of vaccination, testing on arrival and departure, a good tracing system and hygiene measures should allow the safe resumption of travel between countries, said Araújo: “It is crucial to strike a balance between sensible public health measures and preserving connectivity and citizens’ mobility.”