ABTA has blasted the Chancellor’s announcement on the expanded Job Support Scheme saying the new scheme “does little for the UK’s £60bn travel industry, or the close to one million people who work in the sector” and calling for the UK government “to introduce a testing regime which would help to reopen many destinations”.
Following the Chancellor’s announcement of an expanded version of the Job Support Scheme, Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive of ABTA – The Travel Association said: “The Chancellor’s announcement of an expanded version of the Job Support Scheme to support businesses required to close due to local lockdowns does little for the UK’s £60bn travel industry, or the close to one million people who work in the sector.
“For almost eight months the travel industry has been hampered by the FCDO’s global advisory against all but essential travel, ever-changing quarantine rules and the failure of the Government to introduce a testing regime which would help to reopen many destinations.
“The announcement of a Global Travel Taskforce this week is recognition of the difficulties facing businesses across the travel industry. However, we cannot afford to wait weeks for additional help. It is vital that the Government acts fast to help struggling travel businesses, and their staff. Without additional support we will see further job losses in travel over the weeks ahead, in addition to the more than 100,000 roles that have already been lost or at risk as a result of the crisis.”
