The African Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA) has launched a petition to open up Africa for UK travellers.

The petition puts pressure on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to reflect on UK travel advice and the low COVID infection rates across Africa.

ATTA has said it is deeply concerned about jobs in the UK travel sector, livelihoods in Africa and the impact the lack of tourism has had on wildlife and conservation.

Working with Aardvark Safaris and Small World Marketing, ATTA is asking anyone involved in African travel to sign the petition and make their voice heard.

“We cannot wait any longer; African countries have been opening their borders since the beginning of September and have some of the lowest COVID numbers in the world. Despite this, the FCDO is still advising against all but essential travel and implementing a 14-day quarantine period. It is time for the FCDO to start applying the same metrics to Africa as it is to the rest of the world,” said ATTA President, Nigel Vere Nicoll.

He added that UK citizens were being asked to sign the petition and write to their local MP to generate as much pressure as possible.