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Boris Johnson urged Brits to holiday in the UK this summer as he revealed he would enjoy a “staycation” rather than go abroad amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking on Monday, the prime minister said people should remember the UK has “fantastic” and “peerless, wonderful, superlative places” to visit.
He did not reveal where in the UK he would go but added it was a “great year” for a staycation.
Johnson’s appeal for people to holiday at home comes as the Covid-19 lockdown is eased, amid widespread concern that the UK hospitality has been hit hard by the pandemic.
However, the appeal follows criticism of Johnson’s own father Stanley, who was accused of breaking lockdown by visiting his villa in Greece.
Stanley Johnson told people he was making the property, in Pelion overlooking the Aegean sea, Covid-secure.
“I think this is a great, great year for people to have a staycation. This country is uniquely blessed with fantastic places to holiday, whether coastal or otherwise,” the prime minister told reporters during a visit to the London Ambulance Service.
“And I am certainly going to be doing that, but I won’t necessarily tell you where at this stage.
“Obviously if people feel the need for a foreign holiday then that’s completely a matter for them – I totally understand it. But there are fantastic, fantastic places – peerless, wonderful, superlative places – in the UK to go on holiday and that’s certainly what I will be doing.”
Pubs, restaurants and holiday parks have been allowed to reopen after Johnson relaxed the two-metre social distancing rule to “one-metre plus”, meaning a mitigation such as a face covering must be in place.
From July 10 people who live in England will be able to travel to some countries without having to quarantine for 14 days when they return home.
The government’s “travel corridor” list of destinations with “a reduced risk” of coronavirus includes popular short-haul destinations including Spain, France, Italy, Turkey, Greece and Cyprus, as well as long-haul locations including Australia, Barbados, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and Vietnam.