Abta has called the temporary ban on Brits travelling to France a “hammer blow” to the winter travel industry.
Chief executive Mark Tanzer said the government “must now bring forward a support package” to avoid further travel company failures and job losses.
He said: “Reports that France is to introduce a temporary ban on most travel from the UK will come as a hammer blow to the winter travel industry, which is already under extreme pressure following the new Omicron restrictions.
“The winter sports and school travel markets are particularly exposed, and the government must now bring forward a support package if we are not to see company failures and job losses.
“The travel and tourism sector has had little chance to generate income since early 2020 and is now faced with another wave of cancellations.”
Abta said that travel businesses have reported turnover at just 22% of pre-pandemic levels as a result of travel restrictions and low consumer confidence in international travel.
Tanzer added: “Any government review of business support to address the impacts of Omicron must include as a priority travel agents and tour operators.”
More:Ski specialists blast ‘devastating’ and ‘pointless’ French travel ban
Mike Tibbert, vice president of the SPAA, said: “It’s like watching an approaching avalanche and being unable to outrun it.
“Although the French government has indicated that only those with a “compelling reason” for entry to France will be permitted to travel, this does appear to include visiting family, but not for those travelling for tourism. Many Scots have homes in France, and it appears they will need evidence of residency to travel to these for Christmas.”
He added: “It’s another hammer blow for the travel sector, as this is the third season in a row to be disrupted; with one and a half seasons not taking place at all. There’s no end date to this restriction from the French government, so the wider main ski season period may be affected.
“Travel agents face rebookings, cancellations and refunds again and yet again are working without income and on negative revenue as they have to do this work for no recompense and must pay credit card refund charges too.
“Confidence is rock bottom for the Scottish traveller. What little confidence there has been is shattered at the speed of these changes.”
Clive Wratten, chief executive of the Business Travel Association, said: “The introduction of an almost blanket ban on Britons entering France is devastating for the travel sector on both sides of the Channel.
“It is a massive step backwards for safe international travel and once again puts livelihoods and economies in peril.”
He added: “We are urgently calling for the UK government to bring back financial support for the travel sector. We are battling to make it into 2022 and are the only industry currently operating under restrictions.
“The return of 80% furlough until the end of Q1 2022 for our sector would guarantee the industry’s survival and ensure we can play our part in supporting the UK economy once more.”
Julia Simpson, chief executive of the World Travel & Tourism Council, said: “This is an ineffective, knee-jerk reaction by the French government. Banning travel to France will not stop Covid variants that are already in France. As South African scientists said, these decisions are based on hysteria not logic.
“This decision will destroy long-planned family reunions and it has long term implications for a travel and tourism sector that was just beginning to recover.
“Governments should be focusing on individuals allowing people who are fully vaccinated to travel freely. Banning whole countries has been proved to not work.”
She added: “We know this drastic measure will do nothing to stop the new virus strain but will be a major blow to the travel & tourism sector – which is the last thing it needs right now. We should be focusing on stopping community transmission by enforcing mask wearing and implementing enhanced health and safety measures.”
Advantage Travel Partnership chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said called the French ban “deeply worrying” for the UK travel trade.
She said: “While public health is of course paramount, this is reminiscent of last December when countries began shutting their doors to Brits in quick succession, which can have devastating impacts on travel agents and the wider travel community.
“It’s not only the damage these restrictions have to consumer confidence, but it makes it extremely difficult for tour operators and travel agents who have to manage cancellations, refunds and rebook passengers.”
She said the move underlined the need for a “human travel agent” to help reassure and guide holidaymakers, adding: “We can only hope that this decision is reversed – especially as we are about to enter the winter ski season and peak booking period.”
The TSSA union urged the government to reintroduce furlough for Eurostar employees and others affected by the ban.
General secretary Manuel Cortes said: “The government must bring back furlough to protect jobs at Eurostar and elsewhere as we suffer the effects of Omicron.
“Measures to tackle the virus – such as travel restrictions – must come with financial support for businesses, including our travel trade, to prevent thousands of job losses.
“Eurostar has already suffered from plummeting passenger numbers since the start of the pandemic, but as our only green link to Europe it must be a strategic priority for government to sustain the route.
“The government has refused to provide anything other than furlough support since the beginning of the pandemic. With this latest blow of travel restrictions to France, furlough is vital support and must be brought back immediately.”
Niall Walsh, chief operating officer of ferry booking site Direct Ferries, said: “The announcement today is yet another blow to our business and the travel industry, just days before the peak ferry travel period commences. Our Dover to Calais route is one of our most popular at this time of year and this year has been no exception.
“We are currently dealing with calls from distraught UK customers who are desperate to either cancel or bring their bookings forward. It’s a disappointing and we believe unnecessary decision which will keep many people apart again this year for the holidays and will knock consumer confidence in travelling again after the recent months of growth in the sector.”
He added: “With the PCR testing currently in place for travel for British tourists and the willingness of travellers to take on these additional costs in order to be able to travel, it is hugely disappointing that this is not being seen as a viable option to keep travel going but minimising the spread of infection.”