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AITO: Travel industry now ‘in a dark hole’
AITO responded with dismay over the ‘nonsensical ‘decision to remove Portugal from the green list with little notice.
"Changing Portugal from green to amber at short notice – despite telling us that more notice would be given – is not going to encourage consumer confidence," said AITO Chairman Chris Rowles.
"It will also create even more confusion and a demand for refunds, which customers will not be entitled to should they decline to travel."
It is now time for the government to dig deep to protect travel businesses and jobs, AITO says.
"If no travel businesses are going to be allowed to trade this summer, there is now one key thing that the Government needs to deliver to tour operators, travel agents and others – the long-overdue sector-specific support," Rowles added.
"Tour operators and travel agents need significant sector-specific payments, and we need them quickly."
AITO says the industry supports nearly one million jobs
"The solution is simple: Significant cash directed, urgently, straight to tour operators, travel agents and others in the dark hole that is currently the formerly vibrant travel industry."
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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