The Institute for Travel and Tourism (ITT) says the government must do more to support travel staff facing redundancy or reduced hours.
It has also requested the government make grant and loan applications ‘clear and simple’ for firms needing financial assistance.
In a statement issued on Wednesday afternoon, chairman Steven Freudmann said: “ITT welcomes the extra measures to help retail, leisure and hospitality businesses announced by the Chancellor. We welcome the business rates holiday and the three-month mortgage holiday but there needs to be similar assistance for renters.
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“We feel that more needs to be done to help workers who face lay-offs and reduced income if forced to take time off work. We also ask government to ensure that the mechanisms for grant and loan applications for businesses are clear and simple and that government recognises that time is of the essence. We need the detail today.
“Government must ensure that businesses are able to continue paying workers their average pay during the crisis, including where businesses are unable to trade normally. We are also calling on the government to improve Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) so that it reflects average pay, rather than the current £94.25 per week.
“Finally, we call on government to suspend the Package Travel Regulations. Cash flow is critical to all travel business so compulsory refunds to customers would undoubtedly cause huge damage.”