Julia Lo Bue, CEO of Advantage Travel Partnership has hit out at the UK Government due to what she sees as travel sector abandonment. In a quote tweet the ATP CEO said “People say the same about the travel industry but it looks like this: Huge debt. Paying back loans despite trading at -80%. Restrictions remain. Uncertainty through traffic light reviews. Testing shambles. No end in sight. No support. Furlough ending. Losses mounting. Etc, etc.”.
This was in response to a tweet from Sacha Lord in relation to the hospitality sector. He tweeted “Every day, people are STILL saying “I bet you’re glad Hospitality is back to normal.” It isn’t! Huge staff shortages, supplier issues, operators taking on huge debt and deferring bills. It will be a minimum of another 3 years to get back to pre COVID levels. A long road ahead.”.
Julia Lo Bue have been vocal on twitter about the travel sectors upset at ‘hidden’ travel costs in relation to expensive PCR tests and the worry of isolation when abroad.
Locally ANITA, the Association of Northern Ireland Travel Agents, have also expressed concern and upset at the NI Executive in a tweet yesterday (25 August) stating: “Harrowing stories today of the personal struggles of travel agents fighting to keep their businesses open. Our industry effectively still in lock down with no Government support, choking the life out of the Northern Ireland travel trade . @gordonlyons1 @moneillsf @KeepTravelAlive”.
This comes after Gordon Lyons, the Economy Minister for Northern Ireland, launched a multi-million pound tourism support programme (25 August) however it does not include any funding for the travel trade sector.
