A MALVERN travel agency has blasted the government’s decision to make British tourists who are coming back from Spain go into quarantine.

Lee and Hilary Harrison, who run Malvern World Travel, called the decision to reverse Spain’s quarantine-free list as “a massive kick in the teeth” for the travel industry. Mr and Mrs Harrison said: “We realise it’s absolutely paramount to put safety first. But quickfire reactions like this, that seem to change every three hours will devastate a whole industry. At least £1.4 billion was wiped off the value of listed travel companies and airlines such as British Airways owner IAG, Tui, Jet2 owner Dart Group and Ryanair amid concerns that travel curbs could be extended to other countries as Downing Street warned that ‘no travel is risk free.’ The Government haven’t looked at the geography, the distances involved, and been sensible and said: ‘right, avoid these places’, they have just said Spain in general.

READ MORE: Malvern Splash pool won't re-open until 2021

"The government is right to respond when infection rates spike in particular regions, as they have in Catalonia. But applying these changes to the whole of Spain is unnecessary and will cause huge disruption for passengers.”

Last weekend, the government announced that Spain had been removed from the list of countries that Brits can fly back from without needing to quarantine. The advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office changed and now advises British nationals against all but essential international travel. Originally travel to The Canary Islands and Balearics were exempt from this, although still subject to quarantine on return. However, within hours this information was also changed to “against all but essential travel.” Now anyone returning from Spain and the islands will need to quarantine for 14 days, although there are hopes that may be reduced to 10 days. It has also been pointed out that some of the areas in Spain and its islands have much lower risk levels than the UK.

READ MORE: Upton Upon Severn Fire Station gets brand new appliance

Mr and Mrs Harrison added: “We are asking the government to sharpen the ‘blunt tool’ approach and look at the tried and tested way the FCO looks at safety and security at regional and city level rather than blacklisting entire countries. This would allow us to rebuild much needed connectivity, give people confidence to travel, kick start business and would provide a much needed boost to the economy.”

Nationwide company Tui said they were disappointed with the timing of the announcement. Managing director Andrew Flintham said: “We’re incredibly disappointed that we didn’t get more notice of this announcement, or that this decision wasn’t made yesterday, as many Brits travel on holiday at the weekend.”

Rory Boland, editor of consumer rights magazine Which? Travel, said: “Many holidaymakers will be deeply angry that the Government didn’t make this decision 48 hours ago, before tens of thousands of them flew off for their summer holidays in Spain. Many would not have travelled if they had known they’d face 14 days of quarantine on their return.”