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Chancellor under fire from travel industry for focusing on hospitality

Furious travel agents and tour operators have berated chancellor Rishi Sunak for focusing on supporting the hospitality industry and not travel amid the latest Covid-19 surge.

The chancellor is reported to be flying back a day early from a California trip to deal with calls for business support as the Omicron crisis hits travel, hotels, restaurants and other trades.

He tweeted: “I understand that this is a very concerning time for businesses up and down the country. My team and I held meetings with the hospitality sector earlier today. We’re listening to their concerns and will continue to work with them over the coming days.”

Dozens from the travel industry replied to his tweet to remind him of the sector’s plight during the 22 months of the pandemic – and agents group Target is planning a Twitterstorm at noon as it warns of a ‘triple whammy’ in January.

Richard Slater, owner of Henbury Travel and Abta northwest chairman, said: “The offer is still open, happy to meet you with my colleagues, the Regional Chairs of Abta.”

He pointed to Grants Shapps’ previous remarks when he said the transport secretary “knows us as ‘what we used to call travel agents’,” adding: “We’re still here and will fight for our lives”.

Clive Wratten, chief executive of the Business Travel Association, said: “I am still awaiting your call to organise a conversation with the business travel sector. It is likely, by the way, that one of our members booked your trip to California! We need help as much as the hospitality sector, business travel puts £220 billion into [the] UK economy.”

Sarah Weetman, head of sales at Just You and Travelsphere, asked Sunak: “What about the travel industry? When will you hold meetings with key representatives? When will YOU understand that this sector needs immediate support?”

Charlotte Buckland agreed, saying: “Nearly two years we have had to adapt, adjust, try and save bookings, see shops close down, suppliers go bust not to mention the ever changing test requirements which has put off so many from going on holidays. And we still have had zero help or support. We’ve had enough!”

Martin Johnson, co-founder and director of Latin Routes and Polar Routes and vice-chair of the Latin America Travel Association, tweeted to Sunak: “This must seriously be the time to address the complete lack of support for the travel sector! As a tour operator, I’d dream of being just 20% down! Thanks to this government’s ridiculous, haphazard approach flooring all confidence in the market, we’d be lucky at 80% down!!”

Amy Wright, cruise and touring specialist and marketing manager at Select Travel Holidays, echoed the calls of many when she simply repeated the call “WHAT ABOUT TRAVEL?!” 14 times in response to the chancellor on Twitter.

Industry frustration and fury on Twitter echoed that of last week when transport secretary Grant Shapps tweeted about £4 billion of emergency funding for Transport for London.

However, Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of the Advantage Travel Partnership, said on Twitter:
“Now is not the time to put other sectors under the bus. Behind the scenes trying to work cross sector as we all feed into one another. If no one is traveling restaurants remain empty as do our city centres. International travel feeds so many industries, borders closed by stealth.”

The Travel Agents Reform Group Engaged Together (Target) agent action group plans a Twitterstorm at noon on Friday (December 17) as it warns of a “triple whammy” in January.

Jill Waite, owner of Pole Travel and co-founder of Target, said: “Historically, January is the most productive month for new bookings for the travel industry.

“With the latest travel restrictions, agents face losing this vital revenue stream.

“In addition, agents who took a Bounce Back Loan are now faced with repayments of at least £833 a month, on top of their other expenses.

“Travel Agents who are Abta members face having to pay six months’ subscriptions at the beginning of January.”

Co-founder of Target, Graeme Brett (Westoe Travel) added: “Many agents have contacted us to say they will not be able to afford the payments if there are no bookings coming in and no government support.

“We have asked Abta to urgently meet with Rishi Sunak and push the need for sector-specific support and for travel businesses to be given a repayment break for the Bounce Back Loan repayment.

“In addition, we have repeated our calls for Abta to reduce membership fees for travel agencies.”

The tweet is: “The travel industry has been forgotten by the government. Travel restrictions have decimated our businesses. 200,000 jobs already lost in travel & thousands to follow without urgent support. @rishisunak @grantshapps @ABTAMembers #savetravel #savefuturetravel.”

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