Why do people want to go on holidays abroad this summer? (Not travel to family)

[WombatChocolate]

Given we have put in huge efforts to reduce the virus in this country over many months, I struggle why people (not the holiday industry) are so keen to whizz off for a couple of weeks of sun, when we know the virus is surging in parts of the world.

What is this about?

The only thing I can think of which makes any sense to me is that they have already booked, or had a booking carried forward from last year and fear losing the money. Somehow they would rather go than sacrifice the money and that has led to large numbers wanting to go.

We all know that mutants will come into the country through travel and it’s impossible to keep them out, so why do people want to go so much?

Is it that they just love a sunny holiday so much they don’t think about the possible consequences? Is it that they do t want to lose the money? Is it that they are jabbed and so don’t believe their travel can have any consequences? Is it that they don’t know about levels of virus around the world? Or is it that because the holiday industry wants to open up (very understandably) they have been influenced by them?

I really understand people who have family abroad, how difficult the travel issue is for them and I do understand why they want to go and often feel they must go. I’m not asking about that. It’s just the standard holiday I’m interested in, because I don’t really get it.

Anyone who has thoughts about it, or is keen to go and feels like saying why.....many thanks in advance for your thoughts.

@IcedPurple

Just goes to show how effective she was at getting her message across, that greed is good and its all about me.

Yes, terrible that so many people prioritise their own sense of superiority and resentment at other people having fun over the ability of the thousands of people working in tourism to make a living.

Isn't one of the reasons that so many UK service sector businesses have been shut for months because people went abroad last summer, paid no attention to trying not to catch covid and brought it back into the UK with them?

Isn't one of the reasons that so many UK service sector businesses have been shut for months because people went abroad last summer, paid no attention to trying not to catch covid and brought it back into the UK with them?

No.

Isn't one of the reasons that so many UK service sector businesses have been shut for months because people went abroad last summer, paid no attention to trying not to catch covid and brought it back into the UK with them?

Yes.

@IcedPurple yes it’s odd and tedious.

Because most people are inherently selfish and stupid

We are an island. Our government for whatever reason decided not to close any of our ports or airports for the entirety of the pandemic and people continued to come to the UK from all over the world (bringing their infections with them).

As a family we have complied with all the rules since March 2020. We haven't seen family, haven't travelled, all the rest. We have had our first jabs with the second booked for June.

We have a US holiday booked for August which we will go on if we are allowed to. All elements of our trip can be cancelled and we have insurance which includes covid. That doesn't make us any more selfish than the "essential" business travellers popping in and out of the UK for the past 13 months. We've been on a plane twice in the last 10 years.

Cannot believe some of the sanctimonious bs on this thread.

For those who think that travel abroad is selfish, why is it more so than travelling to holiday destinations in the U.K., a lot of which will be very overcrowded by the sounds of it?

@IcedPurple

Isn't one of the reasons that so many UK service sector businesses have been shut for months because people went abroad last summer, paid no attention to trying not to catch covid and brought it back into the UK with them?

No.

Oh, that's strange. In October it was widely reported that the most common variant of covid in the UK was one that originated in Spain and spread with holiday makers coming back in July and August. I don't recall seeing any later articles that contradicted that, perhaps you could share the ones I missed?

Travel abroad is part of a lot of people's life.

How long do you suggest people stop living their life ? That's what it boils down to. How long can this go on ? Everyone loves to say ' we are in the middle of a global pandemic '.. what if it lasts 10 years ? Do you expect people to put their life on hold and stop doing the things they love for 10 years ?

@LondonWFuck

For those who think that travel abroad is selfish, why is it more so than travelling to holiday destinations in the U.K., a lot of which will be very overcrowded by the sounds of it?

The rate of infection in the UK currently is much lower than that of many (most?) holiday destinations. For example France record 14 times as many covid cases in the last 24 hours as the UK.

I honestly think this drive to travel abroad will fuck us next autumn. People need to be content with things opening up here and being able to see our families again.

I wouldn't say this in real life to somone but I think it's really selfish to travel abroad for a holiday in the next few months. Obviously I'm not going to change anyone's mind.

Because I’ve been bored out of my mind lately and never since the age of 14 have I spent more than two consecutive months in the same country. I love visiting new places, traveling and experiencing other cultures. I love airports and the whole thing really. I ‘only’ did 20 flights last year and that felt like nothing 😂

Because even though I will be taking all the sensible precautions to avoid catching Covid and spreading it around, I really couldn’t care less if I were to catch it. My chance of becoming ill or dying of Covid is extremely small. I’d rather be the one in I can’t remember how many thousands to die from it, than spend another year trapped in this half-life.

Because it’s not only about this summer, but about my job’s survival likelihood as we depend on international touring and make most of our income from it. Because work hasn’t actually been as fun as it used to be, and I want my real job back.

Before anyone starts calling me selfish, be reassured that every single one of my trips last year was essential, and unlike most people I know, tests and quarantines were all completed as per the local laws.

it was the Kent variant that was the major cause of the autumn increase in cases

@WombatChocolate I answered your question on another thread but i'll add....

If the govt and the destination country say "go on hols" why is that somehow the fault of the citizen if they do so?

We elect leaders, generally trust them to do the right thing by us, if they don't & it all goes wrong, blame them.... not the tourist doing a perfectly legal and encouraged activity.

People need to be content with things opening up here and being able to see our families again.

If I want to see my family I need to travel abroad. Not everyone lives in the same country as their families and/or friends.

Most of the people who want to go abroad don't need to fear covid. They are young enough and healthy enough it is highly unlikely to damage their health significantly.

Most of the people who want us to stay in lockdown are the ones who are worried about catching covid for themselves or someone they can care deeply about.

The first wanting to get back to normal after giving the 2nd group a year are selfish. The second group, having taken a year from others, are not selfish for asking for yet more sacrifice.

Got it.

Oh, that's strange. In October it was widely reported that the most common variant of covid in the UK was one that originated in Spain and spread with holiday makers coming back in July and August.
I don't recall seeing any later articles that contradicted that, perhaps you could share the ones I missed?

Well, I haven't seen any 'articles' that made that claim, so can't help you there.

If these plague carriers hadn't gone to Spain, do you think they'd have been isolating at home? Or holidaying in Britain? I'll bet that all those tut-tutting at foreign travel are the same people who were moaning about 'idiots flocking to beaches' in Cornwall last summer.

OP, thousands of people (according to the media) flew in from Pakistan in the last couple of weeks in order to avoid hotel quarantine.
Boris Johnson is off to India.
People are choosing to go to hair salons, gyms and non-essential stores.
Perhaps they feel that the NHS isn't overwhelmed and isn't likely to be again because more than 50% of adults have been vaccinated. Now we learn to live with Covid. Live being the important word.
Holidays offer freedom. Wellness. New sights and experiences.
Someone who doesn't travel, or value travel wouldn't understand that.

@MargosKaftan

Most of the people who want to go abroad don't need to fear covid. They are young enough and healthy enough it is highly unlikely to damage their health significantly.

Most of the people who want us to stay in lockdown are the ones who are worried about catching covid for themselves or someone they can care deeply about.

The first wanting to get back to normal after giving the 2nd group a year are selfish. The second group, having taken a year from others, are not selfish for asking for yet more sacrifice.

Got it.

What a ridiculous comparison. Lives, long term health, and livelihoods, versus one year without a holiday abroad.

Long covid is a risk to young and healthy, and other countries (Brazil, Canada) are seeing younger people in ICU with covid.

Nevermind. Deja vu. Autumn/winter lockdown round two here we come.

@jgw1 ok, France is one example but we can't go to France at the moment. Last summer, there were many countries which the U.K. government deemed OK to travel to. Do you think it was unreasonable for people to go to those places, given that it was perfectly legal to do so?

Even if certain places have more cases than Ed do, those places may not be as crowded as U.K. holiday destinations may be over the summer. It's close contact that drives infections up.

Like I say, I went abroad twice last year and for pretty much all that time I wasn't anywhere near anyone. Husband and I chilled out at the hotel, hired bikes and went exploring, and hired private boats with just a tour guide and a boat driver (sailor?!), all socially distanced and outdoors. I'd say all of that was very low risk.

Ed = we. No idea who Ed is...

What a ridiculous comparison. Lives, long term health, and livelihoods, versus one year without a holiday abroad.

Except it’s been over a year now. And we don’t have an end date in sight. Covid, new variants and surges could be around for another 10 years. Or it could never go away. When do we draw the line? Because I won’t happily give up 10 years of my life. Not when it’s just begun.

more than 50% of adults have been vaccinated

No. The majority have only been partially vaccinated. It would be nice if they were given the chance to live long enough and be in good enough health (avoid long covid) to go on holiday next year.

Holidays offer freedom. Wellness. New sights and experiences. Someone who doesn't travel, or value travel wouldn't understand that

Agreed. Which is why I want to see a holiday tax introduced (post pandemic). To fund holidays for the underprivileged, who are unable to afford holidays.

@EileenGC

What a ridiculous comparison. Lives, long term health, and livelihoods, versus one year without a holiday abroad.

Except it’s been over a year now. And we don’t have an end date in sight. Covid, new variants and surges could be around for another 10 years. Or it could never go away. When do we draw the line? Because I won’t happily give up 10 years of my life. Not when it’s just begun.

For sure that new variants and surges will be around if people insist they need to go on holiday abroad, just when the levels back home are at tolerably low levels.

@PomLikeTheBattle

How are you going to tax people who’ve saved for years for a week on the sun, will they get a tax relief? Perhaps the selfish people who can afford 2 weeks should donate 1 of their weeks ??

Oh, wait till hte climate people show up! 'I haven't left a 5-mile vicinity in 25 years, excepting barefooted pilgrimages.'