Tourism and aviation bosses have urged new health minister Sajid Javid to throw a lifeline for companies by easing travel restrictions.

In a letter from Tim Alderslade, head of the Airlines UK trade association, they asked the cabinet minister to expand the green list of countries tourists can travel to without being quarantined on their return.

The letter stated that the UK is the third largest country in the world and that the travel industry generates around £ 53 billion in domestic spending each year.

“The pandemic was a catastrophe for our industry and the economy as a whole,” it said.

It added that international travel saved 1.5 million jobs before the pandemic, but warned that “hundreds of thousands of jobs have been lost and many more remain at risk”.

The 14 signatories to the letter included Association of British Travel Agents Board Chairman Mark Tanzer, Tourism Alliance Director Kurt Janson, and Prospect Union General Secretary Mike Clancy and Unite Union Deputy General Secretary Diana Holland.

Industry leaders said the government needs to expand the green list in line with advice from its advisory body, the Global Travel Taskforce.

The letter also states that the government must “make the restrictions more proportionate while maintaining a strong red list to protect against variants”.

The signatories also called for more financial support, including the extension of the vacation program, “which recognizes that the travel sector’s ability to trade and generate income is much slower than expected”.

“We ask you and your cabinet colleagues to act decisively to save jobs and businesses and to put the industry on a risk-based recovery path,” they said.

Health Minister Sajid Javid urged to expand green list of countries tourists can travel to without being quarantined on return (Aaron Chown / PA)

The letter compared the UK’s approach to that of other countries that have eased restrictions even at lower vaccination rates.

“We are encouraged that the government has confirmed its intention to relax the rules for fully vaccinated individuals traveling from amber destinations and remove statements that discourage travel to those places,” it said.

“However, these changes must be implemented quickly – at the latest when domestic restrictions are lifted in July – if they are to make a real difference to the UK travel industry.”

Signatories added that they were encouraged by reports that the government is considering recognizing the EU’s vaccine certificate, which aims to remove barriers to international tourism.