Social media travel agency and tour operator Trending Travel is to take six influencers to Crete this week in a bid to show that travelling to an amber destination is “safe”.
The Travel Network Group member, which launched in March 2020, has organised a five-night stay at the Elounda Blu hotel from this Wednesday.
The trip, accompanied by a team from Trending Travel, will include excursions such a boat trip to show the influencers what is on offer in the destination, which they can then post on social media for their followers.
The company sells holidays off the back of posts by influencers and currently has 191,000 followers.
Chief executive Keith Herman said: “I am not trying to bend any rules. It is not against Foreign Office advice to go to Crete and we felt it was reasonable to take a trip. The key aim for us is to show that travel to an amber destination is still safe.”
He said the “disconnect” in terms of FCDO advice and and the government’s traffic light system left the industry in a “crazy situation” while consumers were unsure where they could travel.
“People are in a state of confusion,” added Herman.
Herman, who joined hundreds of others at the Travel Day of Action in Westminster, added: “We are working really hard to make sure pressure is put on the government to see sense.”