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Agency woes deepen as Advantage pleas for support
The removal of the Canary Islands from the travel corridor will be ‘absolutely devastating’ for agents and operators, Advantage Travel Partnership boss Julia Lo Bue-Said has warned.
She said it left the industry with very few winter destinations to sell, while retailers facing another round of mass cancellations at a time when many staff are furloughed.
"At what point will the government recognise that tailored support is needed?, Lo Bue-Said asked.
She added the government approach was ‘causing devastation and misery to many businesses’.
"Given the limited number of destinations suitable for winter sun holidays that are also exempt from self-isolation upon return to the UK, the majority of departures over the next few weeks would have been to the Canaries, particularly since the UK lockdown has been lifted and in the lead-up to the Christmas period," she said.
"Travel agents will now have the difficult task of re-booking and cancelling passengers, while the majority of their workforce remain on furlough.
"Without a travel corridor the FCDO advisory will kick in and advise against all but essential travel, meaning any passengers who are able to travel and quarantine on arrival will need to check their travel insurance.
"At what point will the government recognise that tailored support is needed? The travel industry is vital to economic recovery but continued changes to the travel corridor measures, blanket FCDO advisory and a testing regime that still hasn’t been implemented is causing devastation and misery to many businesses."
The removal of the Canaries – at a time when the industry was seeing tentative signs of a recovery – will be ‘hugely damaging’, she added.
"We strongly urge the government to advise at their earliest convenience their plans for the test and release scheme as well as a much needed review of the FCDO advisory."
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