Most of us have ruled out travel right now as a no-go. The seemingly ever-lasting pandemic has placed restrictions on both domestic and international travel over the last year, forcing us to minimise our movements. Yet lately there has been a surge in influencers and reality TV stars taking international trips to destinations including Barbados and Dubai, boasting images of white sands and turquoise waters to brighten up our day. This seems unfair, as most of these famed trips were taken whilst much of the UK population were put into lockdown and travelling out of local areas was banned. 

But can travel during a pandemic ever be justified? Despite many new restrictions put in place over November and December, for a few areas, travel was simply advised against, rather than explicitly forbidden. This enabled some people to book foreign holidays, so long as they complied with the requirements of their destination county. UAE, for instance, just asked for a negative COVID test within 3 days of travel into the country. There may be a limit to how far we can criticise travel if it did not involve any law-breaking. Many destinations also depend on the travel industry to prop up their economies, and any booked trips will help support the struggling industry. 

For regions of the UK where travel out of the area was banned, there were exceptions permitted if travel was necessary for work, or if this work could not be done at home. Some influencers used this exemption to justify travel as it was sponsored by fans or they considered travel to be necessary to creating their online content. It can be commonly agreed that this travel was not exactly ‘essential’ and instead sparked controversy over how the exemptions are interpreted. It’s clear that no one should be exempt from restrictions in place, including celebrities and influencers. Travel during a pandemic may put people at home at increased risk of contracting the virus, especially as a negative COVID test wasn’t required on re-entry to the UK until recently. It also puts local residents of the destination at increased risk, as well as potentially putting local healthcare services under more strain. 

When and where travel is permitted however, there are definitely ways to limit the impact of our movements. Staying relatively local is a good idea, rather than flying abroad and risking carrying the virus across borders. It also saves the hassle of testing and quarantining on arrival and return. There was a great case for domestic travel last summer, with many people enjoying trips not too far from home, but still having a change of scenery. Where we stay and our transport can also affect the risk. Driving, although having a greater impact on the environment, can limit the impact of travel on the pandemic. Self-contained travelling poses a smaller risk of transmission than using public transport. If you choose to drive but want to minimise your carbon footprint, try and choose places which are not too far from home. Staying in self-contained accommodation, like renting holiday cottages and apartments may be recommended over communal types, such as hostels or hotels where various common spaces are shared. It may also be beneficial to travel only with those you live with or with a support bubble, minimising close contact with people outside your household. 

Frustration towards celebrity holidays and the unfairness it represents shows that now isn’t the right time to go on holiday. Depending on restrictions, the opportunity will arise again at some point as they did last year. By considering ways to reduce the impact the travelling has on the pandemic, there are safe ways to go about holidaying. Giving thought to how far you travel and how you book transport and accommodation is worthwhile, and doesn’t make for a less enjoyable trip. And of course, there is no harm in planning a holiday for when the right time comes. 🙂