Cambuslang Travel owner John Wilson has said the recession is to blame for the sudden closure of his two travel agencies.
The company, which had stores in Cambuslang and East Kilbride, ceased trading last week to the surprise of the Scottish travel industry.
Wilson said: “We had been going for 25 years, but the recession got us. The collapse of the XL Leisure Group and Scottravel Holidays didn’t help, but mostly it was because sales were down and the bank would not help.
“We relied heavily on the family market and families are either not going away, or taking domestic breaks. Customers were afraid to commit themselves to a holiday because of uncertainty about their jobs.”
Most customers will be able to travel as planned, he added, and advised those with forward bookings to contact ABTA.
Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association spokesman Sandy MacPherson said: “Everyone has been saddened by the news because Cambuslang Travel was a good long-standing agency. It really came as a bolt out of the blue.”
However, staff at the agency are “fuming” about the way they have been treated by Wilson. One former travel consultant said she is owed more than £1,000 in wages.
“We have been treated very badly – all the staff are fuming,” she said.
Wilson said: “My first priority is to look after staff and customers”.