A new survey by The Business Travel Association (BTA) shows that the majority of travellers returning to the UK were not asked for their Covid-19 test results by UK Border Force.
The survey of 500 people revealed that 76 per cent of those who travelled outside of the UK between January and August this year were not asked for their test results on arrival.
The results also showed that of those required to take Day 2 and Day 8 tests after returning to the UK, 97 per cent were not asked to show the results of these to anyone.
A similar number said that they believed PCR testing should be removed for vaccinated travellers returning from Green list countries, while 86 per cent thought testing should be removed for Amber list countries, and 13 per cent for Red list destinations.
When asked about costs of PCR testing, 61 per cent thought tests for travel should cost between £10 and £20, while 16 per cent thought they should be free.
The BTA is calling on the government to remove testing for double vaccinated travellers returning from green and amber list countries, alongside introducing a testing price cap of £20.
Commenting on the survey Clive Wratten, CEO of the BTA, said:
“The findings from our latest travel survey are shocking. It is appalling to see over 75 per cent of people travelling throughout the last eight months have not been asked to show their PCR tests on arrival to the UK, some of which cost over £100 to take.”
“As a crucial economic enabler for the UK and the world, it is pivotal business and leisure travellers can book with confidence and have access to affordable, accessible testing.”
“We hope our data revealed today will provide a stark reminder to the Government of the many pitfalls of the UK’s current approach to global travel and testing, and we continue to call on them to get global travel moving safely, smoothly and securely once again.”
Meanwhile a report by the BBC today suggests that over 300,000 people arriving into England and Northern Ireland between March 17 and May 31 this year may have broken quarantine rules.
The report said that more than a million people arrived during the period from amber list countries, but a Freedom of Information request showed that 301,076 cases had been referred to investigators for checks on whether they were self-isolating.
