Social Media Influencers Enjoy Sunshine While Ordinary People Criticise UK-Dubai Travel Ban
Soaking sun in the UAE has become a delightful holiday plan for most British travellers despite repeated lockdowns in the UK. Following the trend of travel shaming, several social media influencers are being criticised for enjoying luxury holidays at a time when the world is struggling to fight against the pandemic.
After the imposition of the UK-Dubai travel ban on January 29, British visitors have criticised the blanket ban for restricting travel for those with valid reasons. Thousands of travellers who had flight via the UAE from spots in Australia and Asia are disappointed to find themselves stuck in the UAE. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announcement about the ban on January 28 gave people just 20 hours to search for other options to visit the UK.
Due to a foreseeable ban on direct flights, British and Irish citizens and others with residency rights travelling from the UAE can enter the UK only via a third country. Longer flight route post the Dubai travel ban will not only be time consuming, but also add to flight expenses.
Many social media influencers and reality TV stars who visited the UAE, citing work purposes, have now become subjects of travel shaming as fans complain about their luxurious holiday photographs. Following this, many have claimed to unfollow celebrities posting travel photos. Cast members of the British television program, ‘The Only Way Is Essex’ have received harsh comments for chilling in sun loungers. Others, including Love Island stars Joseph Garratt and Anton Danyluk have also become victims of this criticism.
Fans have expressed disappointment towards such famous personalities as they continue to travel despite government orders to refrain all sorts of non-essential travelling to the UAE post the spread of South Africa’s Covid-19 strain. This comes after Home Secretary Priti Patel had announced that going on vacations is not an exemption, and it’s important for people to stay at home.
With over 240,000 British expats, Dubai has become a favourable tourist destination for British travellers. The UK-Dubai travel ban will also affect airline revenues as many British social media influencers who were planning to visit the Middle East have cancelled plans for now. Meanwhile, the UAE has extended visit visas of travellers who weren’t able to leave for the UK before the ban was actualised.
