The events of the past week have astonished and horrified us all. The Bastille Day massacre of families enjoying an evening out in Nice and the bloody attempted coup in Turkey put lesser problems in perspective.
Who knows where and what public event may be targeted next, or whether Turkey might be sucked deeper into the violence engulfing the region.
It would be easy to be downbeat in the circumstances, amid uncertainty about the future following Britain’s decision to leave the EU and with the added complication of a major company collapse on the cusp of the peak holiday season.
Yet these events have also showcased some of the best aspects of the industry and its ability to handle whatever is thrown its way. In response to the attempted coup, operators including Tui and Thomas Cook were contacting customers to offer alternative destinations or full refunds to those unwilling to travel to Turkey.
At the same time, operators and agents worked all over the weekend to mitigate the impact of Lowcost Travel Group’s collapse. The pressure will have been intense, dealing with people who had lost their annual holiday and the difficulty of rebooking so many in the current market and at this time of year.
But as the dust settles and the rush to rebook customers subsides, there is an opportunity to take stock and recognise the benefits of booking with a trusted agent or operator who works within the UK regulatory system overseen by the CAA.
It’s not the time to say ‘I told you so’, but neither is it time to downplay the value of booking through the trade.