This is a simple request to the forum.
The recent news of the situation with UK holidaymakers in Portugal was NOT their fault. They were doing what the majority of this forum wants...a return to foreign travel and were doing what every member of this forum does....having a bit of family R&R.
They complied with every requirement that was asked by both the UK government and their host country.
They did so in good faith.
I would request, which has been noticable by its;absence, that any criticism is restricted to your own country and not to others....
The change (by the UK government) whilst many families were on a much needed holiday was not their fault and was unseen. It should not be treated with any schadenfreude.
Edit: I should add that they were giving a much needed boost, economically, to a fellow European country.
Or maybe it would do everyone well to remember that cheap holidays always come at some expense to someone. Cheap flights. Cheap hotels. The UK government did not want to be left holding a very expensive tab for some people's decisions.
We are all clamouring all over the world to race off in all directions, and while tourism industries everywhere rely on that travel, there is something of a cynical exploitation of the need that comes off as "Too bad for them. They need my dollars, what few I will deign to part with for my own enjoyment and convenience." The problem is not specific to the UK. It is human self-centredness on full display from all quarters.
We *KNOW* there is an unpredictable pandemic. We know that there are likely to be about 6-7 waves before such things really calm down. We *MIGHT* have a chance to make it 4-5 waves (some have already had a 4th). We *KNOW* that borders on maps do not reflect concrete boundaries on viruses.
If we cannot take time to self-quarantine on return home, then perhaps we ought to holiday at home. Unless we think ourselves more precious than our neighbours, colleagues, and so on.
Travel is too cheap now, and the world has been spoiled by it. Environments trammelled... the large cities of Europe uninhabitable by the locals priced out before the pandemic by cruise ships and Air-B-N-B.
All I'm getting at is that it's worth taking a pause to examine what we are really due because we have the means to pay the discounted prices.
And matters of bureaucratic decision-making and policy implementations are not "politics" (at least not in the sense that the forum intends).
We ought all to assume that in very uncertain times that bureaucracies may have extreme challenges rolling out agreed-upon certificates for things like vaccine passports. And it makes no sense to depart from home assuming that the travel freedoms and restrictions in place will remain in place. Everything is in flux. Some of us can afford to travel when things are in flux. I am not among those who could afford to make assumptions, or skirt rules... Those who can ought not complain if/when having placed their bets they have to pony up.