The Advantage Travel Partnership has called the closing of borders across the world “another blow to the industry and the travel agents at the coal-face of the crisis” during what is “already a very anxious time”.
Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO at Advantage Travel Partnership said: “For the past nine months our travel agent members have put their customers first. They have worked with the changing government guidelines despite the confusion and chaos this caused and have done all this with no specific sector support, no income and increasing financial losses.
“Public health and safety will always come first and we fully understand that countries must approach news of a new strain of COVID-19 with caution. However, we cannot hide behind the fact that with over 40 countries now having closed their borders to Brits and with Spain now following, this is another blow to the industry and the travel agents at the coal-face of the crisis.
“In what is already a very anxious time following the introduction of tougher measures across some parts of the UK, many agents have been working around the clock to cancel, re-book and refund passengers. Whilst we remain optimistic for the new year and the news of the vaccine, travel agents have already missed out on nine months of income.
“We are approaching what would be the peak season for booking customers for their summer holidays and beyond, which is the equivalent to what Christmas is to the hospitality sector. The industry cannot survive much more downtime without the government recognising the crisis it faces.
“The industry will have to deal with the immediate fallout from borders closing and restrictions put in place by stepping up and looking after their clients, but it is imperative that we have action now from the government, particularly with Brexit looming. We need urgent aid, urgent attention and we need them to recognise the significant impact the travel industry has to the wider UK economy.”
