Ski specialists have said the ban on UK tourists travelling to France has come at the “worst possible time” and criticised the “political” decision.
Niall Douglas, managing director of Full Circle Travel, said the news was “devastating” for companies like his who make significant ski sales.
He said: “It is a devastating blow. Not only are the holidays for thousands affected but the financial impact on travel businesses with be huge.
“I would not be surprised if other countries follow suit. No clarification on timeframe, transit rules – just more chaos.”
He added that the move felt “political” and was not supported by case numbers which suggested France had similar numbers but was testing fewer people.
He said: “I think there is more politics than sense involved in this decision and clearly highlights that there is no faith in the testing for travel programme. If the tests were reliable then why not permit travel?”
Ski Solutions managing director Craig Burton said the ban came “at the worst possible time” at the start of the ski season and just days before Christmas and New Year.
He said: “It just feels like madness. My thoughts are with all the thousands of skiers who missed out last year. and perhaps the year before, and have now had their Christmas and New Year holiday plans ruined at late notice.”
He added the move would impact everyone in the supply chain, from tour operators and hotels to bars and restaurants in ski resorts. “They are all going to be devastated by this news so close to Christmas. So many operators have had to jump through hoops to get staff out to resort; we just want to start delivering trips and now we can’t,” he said.
Ski Solutions’ tour operation has offered clients the option to travel later in the season, book for next year or have a refund, while its agency business was waiting to hear from tour operators as to what options were available to clients booked to go to France this winter.
Richard Sinclair, chief executive of ski specialist agency Sno, urged operators to consider allowing clients to transfer bookings to the 2022-2023 winter season, not just later in the season, saying this would allow them to retain the most clients and appeal to “the more nervous customers, who would otherwise be asking for a refund”.
“Hundreds of customers are affected over the next few weekends and thousands if restrictions drag on,” he said.
Sinclair called the move by the French government “pointless”, adding it would damage the mountain towns skiers planned to visit, and said the UK government now had to support the sector.
He added: “Travel businesses don’t want hand-outs, we want to be allowed to trade, but the government must step up with furlough and grants if they continue to prevent that.”
Ski operator Inghams said it was currently contacting clients in resort to reassure them it would “monitor the situation closely” but said they could continue their holidays as planned.
For those booked to go to France this winter, it said it would be offering the chance for clients to amend their booking to a later date or receive a full refund.
In a statement the operator said: “We understand this news is disappointing and may be concerning. Therefore, we’d like to reassure everyone that in line with our In Safe Hands promise, if we have to cancel holidays due to Covid-19 rules and regulations, we will offer our customers the chance to move their booking to a later date or receive a full refund.”