Members of Aito, the Specialist Travel Association, hailed government confirmation that the red list of countries would be slashed from Monday as “a game changer”.
Aito chairman Chris Rowles said: “There is real hope now for the travel industry to pick up and move forward. There is just a handful of destinations left on the red list.”
Speaking following an Aito autumn general meeting in London, Rowles told Travel Weekly: “This is the game changer. It means a real opening up of travel.
“There could always be hiccoughs – a deterioration in some destinations that we’ll have to deal with. But there is the demand. The industry can pick up now. It’s the best news I’ve heard in ages.”
Sunvil Group managing director Chris Wright said: “It’s better than could have wished for. It means our Africa and Central America programmes can open up.”
Kirker Holidays director Ted Wake told Travel Weekly: “Our short-haul focus means our clients have had permission to travel for some time, but this gives people much more inclination to travel. It’s a positive step.”
In a statement, Aito “warmly welcomed” the announcement after it had sharply criticised the government the previous day over the latest Foreign Office (FCDO) advice on travel.
It described the rules for unvaccinated travellers as “sensible” and welcomed “FCDO assurances that it will be ‘working hard’ to bring its travel advice into line with the much-reduced list of banned destinations”.
Rowles said: “We don’t expect a huge rush of family half-term holiday bookings – it is very late in the day for such plans. [But] this is most definitely a positive step.
“Consumers will now have considerably more confidence in respect of travelling abroad, which bodes very well for the winter sun and ski seasons.
“Slowly, but surely, we’re starting to emerge from the past 19 months of cancellations, deferrals and the inability of many in the industry to trade.”
He added: “October 7 will be a day to remember when we look back on the pandemic in years to come.”
Earlier, Rowles told the Aito meeting: “We’ve been on our knees and it’s not over, but it looks as though things are starting to change – not for all and not at the same pace for everyone.
“[But] all this should have happened six months ago. It could have if our government had not been illogical and not followed some hidden agenda.”