Influencers in Dubai: Who's really at fault?
Blissful beaches, stunning scenery, tropical temperatures and a lack of lockdown.
I’m sure all of our dreams are currently filled with faraway visions of us escaping to Dubai. Leaving the wearing worries of lockdown behind and immersing ourselves into a period of relaxation is something that the nation is undoubtedly longing for. Who wouldn’t want a luxury holiday after the abysmal annum that we have all encountered? I certainly do. I think we all deserve one.
But turning our dreams into reality appears to occur only when we sleep for now as the government’s “Stay at Home” message remains present. Only essential travel is permitted at the minute which includes leaving the house for work purposes if it is impossible to fulfil our roles from home. Nurses, carers and food retail staff are a few of the keyworkers that this exemption applies to.
Oh! And social media influencers! Apparently.
Countless content creators have received an abundance of criticism regarding their “work trips” to Dubai. Some been accused of using their “work” as a tool to disguise their reasons for embarking on what very much looks like a holiday.
Former Love Island star, Olivia Attwood, publicly shamed this excuse on her Instagram story where she stated: “There is a difference from being able to earn money from wherever you are and being on holiday for work. People are losing their family members daily and you’re on the beach telling us we don’t know how hard it is.”
This valid opinion is shared by many which has led to those within the influencing industry who have journeyed abroad being branded as “selfish” and “irresponsible” across social media platforms (ironically).
Working as an influencer is not a position placed in jeopardy when being secluded to the one place. Admittedly, it may make it more difficult to stimulate creative content and accomplish pre planned ideas, but the ability to work throughout a time in which so many have lost their jobs is a privilege that lies with this occupation. Flying to a different continent to take pictures to post on Instagram is not an accurate definition of “essential travel” in my eyes.
But who sets the guidelines for essential travel? Am I wrong in saying that it doesn’t cover influencing work? Who is policing the travellers’ intentions? These are questions that are needed to be answered by the government.
Of course influencers, and all people who decide to venture abroad at the minute, have the responsibility to make their own adult choices and influencers should keep in mind what they are actually influencing. But the practicality of them physically having the ability to travel is an action for which the government should hold accountability.
We have been told repeatedly throughout the pandemic by our political leaders to use our own judgement and common sense when it comes to evaluating how our activities align with COVID rules. It must be recognised that some people are more ignorant to the virus than others and are ignited with little fear which results in them practicing less cautious actions. Those who appear more tolerable to the fact that we are living through a global pandemic would likely be those who are willing to holiday overseas for purposes of pleasure. Why have the government been keen to allow this to continue?
Implementing travel corridors dismissed travellers from certain countries of the need to quarantine on their return to the UK, which could be viewed as travel incitement. This downplayed the prominent force that leaving and returning to the country has on transmitting the virus and, as a consequence, two new strains of COVID have been identified in the UK which is posing as a significant threat to the lifting of lockdown. Suspending travel corridors only came into force on 18th January which is where the term ‘a little too late’ fittingly applies.
Viewing this issue from a business perspective offers a different outlook on the situation. The aviation industry needs custom in order to gain profit and avoid collapse during this potentially career running time. Travel restrictions have taken a detrimental toll on travel companies who have suffered from severe profit loss and are struggling for survival. But the government’s promise to try and balance public health and the British economy equally has proven to be unattainable. Administrating schemes such as “Eat Out to Help Out” and reopening pubs in phases via a tier system saw COVID cases rise, implying that allowing hospitality to operate freely cannot be done simultaneously with suppressing a virus. The same attitude should surely be shown towards travel and a spirited urgency to prioritise public health must be practiced.
As important as influencing is in terms of earning an income to those who are successful in the field, it is not a profession that requires travel in order to carry out the work. The government’s slow reaction to halt travel understates the key role that it plays in transmitting the virus and clear guidance should have been issued earlier explaining what exactly constitutes to essential work with sufficient measures in place to check that any travel that does take place is absolutely necessary. As long as travel is tolerated, people cannot be penalised for carrying out the act. Whilst influencers remain in the firing line, perhaps it is the government who should take their place.
