The furlough scheme ends today with nearly one million workers still impacted and uncertain about what lies ahead.
It ends with continued travel restrictions around the world meaning an uncertain future for travel industry employees.
Travel businesses still face ‘extreme difficulties’ due to restrictions ABTA said.
This is especially true for specialists who sell to destinations which remain on the red list.
For these companies and smaller travel businesses ABTA again called for sector specific support.
"The government needs to look at how it can support these businesses – particularly as the furlough scheme comes to an end – through a package of tailored financial support, including extending business rates relief and a specific grant scheme for travel companies."
"With the right support and conditions, the sector has the potential to be at the forefront of the economic recovery. In order to drive further job creation, we urge Government to implement a long-overdue reform of business rates and a permanently lower rate of VAT for hospitality and tourism," said Kate Nicholls, CEO of UKHospitality.
The Liberal Democrats have called for furlough support to be extended for hard-hit sectors like the travel industry to avoid a ‘tidal wave’ of job losses.
"This risks having a devastating impact on countless families already facing a winter of soaring energy bills. The Government needs to rethink its approach or the country could face a Coronavirus Black Thursday," Lib Dem treasury spokesperson Christine Jardine wrote in a letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak.
Since 2020 some 11 million salaries have been subsidised costing the taxpayer about £70 billion.
