The UK travel agency and tour operator sector is still 22% behind the level it was in February 2020, before the Covid pandemic struck, according to official data.
The figure was released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), in its latest estimate of gross domestic product (GDP), for April 2023.
The overall GDP is estimated to have grown by 0.2% in April 2023, following a fall of 0.3% in March 2023.
Monthly GDP is now estimated to be 0.3% above its pre-coronavirus levels (February 2020).
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However, consumer-facing services in April were 8.7% below their pre-coronavirus levels, with 11 of 13 industries lower than February 2020.
Activities of households as employers of domestic personnel is the furthest consumer-facing industry from recovery, being 40.5% below pre-coronavirus levels.
‘Other personal service activities’ follows in second place, being 27% behind February 2020, while ‘Travel agency, tour operator and other reservation service and related activities’ is third, at 22% behind pre-pandemic levels.
Only food & beverage service activities and veterinary activities are ahead of February 2020.
Overall, the services sector grew by 0.3% in April 2023, following a 0.5% fall in March 2023, and was the main contributor to the growth in monthly GDP in April.
Darren Morgan, ONS director of economic statistics, told Sky News: “Bars and pubs had a comparatively strong April while car sales rebounded and education partially recovered from the effect of the previous month’s strikes.
“These were partially offset by falls in health, which was affected by the junior doctors’ strikes, along with falls in computer manufacturing and the often-erratic pharmaceuticals industry.
“House builders and estate agents also had a poor month.”
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