John and Irene Hays, owners of Hays Travel, have spoke of their “devastation” after announcing the potential redundancy for almost 900 staff and have called for the government to reassess its policy on Spain.
Speaking to the BBC, John Hays said: “What we would like to do is call on the Government to look again at its policy with regards to Spain.
“The industry rose up as one after the announcement [to advise against all non-essential travel] so all the airports, the major airlines, and tour companies said the government’s ban on travel to places in North East Spain was absolutely right. We totally agree with that.
“However a more sophisticated, targeted approach would really help everyone who wants to go on holiday, and everyone in the travel industry.
“The infection rates in places like the Costa Del Sol and Majorca and Tenerife are less, and Germany is taking a more targeted and sophisticated approach.”
Mr Hays commented on the safety element of visiting parts of Spain saying: “We certainly wouldn’t endorse or encourage anyone to go to an area which has a higher infection rate than the UK, such as the North East of Spain.
“However where infection rates are less than the UK then yes, it should be safer for them to go there than staying in the UK.”
Irene Hays points out that although the recent government blow for Spanish bound holidaymakers which lead to a large fall in bookings and increased cancellations, there is still very much a demand for overseas travel with late bookings for 2020 and bookings into 2021 very strong.
Mrs Hays said: “What we are seeing at the moment is lots of people who were waiting to book a holiday to Spain and the Balearics and Canaries are now transferring to Greece or Turkey. Italy is also doing very well.
“Lots of people who want to get away are transferring to place like that. So there is still latent demand. But obviously the best thing would be if there was a review of the arrangements around the Balearics and Canaries. That would help the industry greatly.”
Despite the demand for safe travel, the governments quarantine rules which were then followed by the advice against travel have had a devastating effect to the business, which is seeing a tip of the scales with cancellations outweighing bookings, putting Hays into a “negative revenue position”.
John Hays spoke of the “devastating” impact that the company is facing and how having never made significant redundancies in 40 years of business to now having to make though decisions with regard to the future of their staff, he describes as “painful”.
