Tourism Industry Emergency Response Group (TIER) - Coronavirus update

Coronavirus - correct as at 30 January 2020
For information the following is the latest update from the latest TIER Group meeting which was before today’s announcement of cases in the UK:

• Health protection teams have been in place at Heathrow since 22nd January and in Gatwick and Manchester since 29th January.
• Posters and leaflets have been sent by Public Health England electronically to all 28 UK international airports and all UK Eurostar terminals.
• Following Foreign Office advice against all, but essential travel to mainland China,  British Airways cancelled their flights to and from Beijing and Shanghai until 31 January with immediate effect. This period has now been extended until 29 February, while they assess the situation. Flights to and from Hong Kong remain unaffected.
• There are still a number of airlines operating between the UK and China so passengers do have other options to get home.
• Other airlines including Lufthansa, Air Canada, United Airlines, Air India, Air Tanzania have suspended flights to and from mainland China.
• Some commercial airlines are still operating but have reduced their services including Cathay Pacific, Lion Air, Air Seoul, Finnair, American Airlines
• The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is doing everything they can to get British people in Wuhan safely back to the UK. A number of countries’ flights have been unable to take off as planned. They continue working urgently to organise a flight to the UK as soon as possible.
• Anyone who now returns from Wuhan will be safely isolated for 14 days, with all necessary medical attention
• Chinese authorities have ordered all their national travel agencies and online travel companies to temporarily suspend business, group travel and ‘ticket and hotel’ products effective immediately
• The Chinese Government is asking travel companies, operators and tourism businesses around the world to facilitate booking changes and cancellations to help reduce the movement of crowds and reduce the spread of the virus. At the moment the Chinese Government are not offering any compensation to cancelled groups.
• Best practice industry examples from accommodation providers such as Jurys Inn and GLH are offering free cancellations until 4 February to guests who are affected by the situation.

 
Re: Outbound travel to China from the UK:

• The FCO are advising travellers who want to leave China soon, should consider making plans to do so before any further restrictions may be imposed.
• They are advising against all travel to Hubei Province and against all but essential travel to the rest of mainland China (not including Hong Kong and Macao).
• You can keep up-to-date on the FCO’s travel advice website here: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/china

TIER is a small group comprising key tourism industry organisations and government.  The group develops plans for crisis scenarios as well as managing the tourism industry’s response to a specific crisis. TIER is facilitated by VisitBritain and comprises 10+ industry representatives.  Members of the group include the Association of British Travel Agents, UKinbound, UK Hospitality, Britain’s national tourist boards, British Airways and the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions. Other groups are called on depending on the location and nature of the crisis. (VB, 2020).