Northern Ireland travel agencies close early amid local unrest

Several travel agencies in Northern Ireland decided to close early yesterday (Wednesday, June 10) after unrest broke out on Monday night following a stabbing.

 

The disruption has seen cars, buses and houses set on fire, alongside violent protests resulting in several arrests. More police have been deployed in Belfast, and public transport was suspended across the country.

 

Maxine Bracewell, founder of Ballymena-based Travelmax, said the agency “remains open and operating as normal,” but staff have been advised to “lock up sharp and get out of town at 5pm” instead of working in the office in the evenings.

 

In addition, the team has made the decision not to attend an industry event taking place in the city tonight due to travel disruption and uncertainty on the roads, with many suppliers also “changing flights to head home sooner than planned”.

 

She said: “We are, of course, monitoring the situation closely and keeping staff safety as our priority. Thankfully, we have all the facilities at our home office to continue with urgent enquiries and emergencies late into the evenings, so our clients are being looked after.

 

“The events of recent days are incredibly disheartening and disappointing, particularly for local businesses and the wider community. Our thoughts are with those directly affected.”

 

She added the team “do not believe the disruption reflects the vast majority of people here” who “want to get on with their daily lives in peace”.

 

Bracewell said it was “an exceptionally busy day” yesterday (June 10), with clients booking trips to Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the Seychelles, Ibiza, Portugal and Caribbean cruises.

 

“The phone is still ringing and holidays are still being booked, so we’re keeping calm and carrying on,” she said.

 

In a Facebook post, Oasis Travel confirmed it closed its shops early at 12.30pm “due to the current situation,” but noted that staff were still working from home and phone lines were operating as normal to assist customers.

 

The agency has eight branches across Northern Ireland, including three in Belfast.

 

Creative director Sandra Corkin told Travel Weekly the decision was made due to schools closing and the public transport network being halted. 

She added she had been at the Northern Ireland Travel News Big Trade Event which had seen “quite a few cancellations”.

 

Sharon Thompson of Thompson Travel told Travel Weekly said several business and schools “closed early in an attempt to mitigate any further chance of vandalism” and allow people to get home “without issue”.

 

“To the best of my knowledge no travel premises across Northern Ireland have been damaged,” she said. 

 

“A lot of us participated in a travel event in Belfast today, but had to make decisions to return home at different stages in light of further planned protests.”

 

Thompson added there had been public outrage at the open brutality of the attack which sparked protests, but that there was “no tolerance of more violence to sort the problem.”

 

Meanwhile, Lynsey Joy, cruise manager at Travel Solutions Belfast, told Travel Weekly her shop would be remaining open, along with “a lot of other agencies”.

 

“We are a resilient bunch in Northern Ireland and spirits are high,” she said.