‘Summer will still be restricted’, warns Advantage chief

Advantage Travel Partnership has tempered the mood of positivity surrounding the Government’s escape-from-lockdown roadmap, warning that ‘significant challenges’ remain.

Chief Executive Julia Lo Bue-Said cautioned against over-confidence, and emphasised the dates set out by Boris Johnson were ‘not set in stone’.

"It is highly probable that travel for this summer will be restricted in some way," she said.

The remarks came as tour operators continued to report a bookings surge in the aftermath of Monday’s roadmap which, while ruling out international travel until 17 May, hinted at better times ahead.

But some commentators have viewed such bookings euphoria with suspicion, pointing out that percentage increases are almost meaningless without sales data to back them up.

"If you go from two bookings to four, you’ve doubled sales. But you’ve still only got four bookings," one said. "The percentage increases have come off not so much a low base as a base of zero bookings."

Lo Bue-Said praised the roadmap for delivering positive news ‘at long last’.

But she added: "While we are optimistic at the pent up demand from consumers and the plan to get the UK out of lockdown, we need to be mindful that the dates outlined are not set in stone and there is a need to err on the side of caution for summer departures.

"Clarity is still needed from government on quarantine hotels, quarantine periods, testing and vaccine passports and until further details have been received from the Global Travel Taskforce and we have a better understanding of the protocols that may be in place, it is highly probable that travel for this summer will be restricted in some way."

While acknowledging the overall picture has improved, Lo Bue-Said agents are still facing challenges, and are working hard to rebook customers due to depart before 17 May.

She said it remained critical for Chancellor Rishi Sunak to come to the aid of the industry in next week’s budget.    

"[The Chancellor must] recognise that travel agents have received virtually no income for over a year now with the majority trading -90%," Lo Bue-Said insisted.

The Advantage boss added that when travel does resume, retail consultants can come into their own.

"Travel agents have a huge opportunity to offer that balanced, honest perspective which is why we created our Keep Calm & Dream of Travel campaign, to highlight a customer commitment for agents to present to their customers for when the time is right to travel again," she said.

"Travel agents have access to flexible booking options and with the knowledge and guidance that a local travel agent can offer, there has never been a better time for consumers to book a holiday using an agent – but cautious optimism is needed."

By Steve Jones, Contributing Editor (UK)