Abta is focusing its lobbying efforts on ensuring there is no return of travel restrictions for vaccinated travellers as bookings return at volume.
Yet it has revealed less than half of members successfully accessed Additional Restrictions Grants [ARGs] from local councils in England in the last round of funding. The grants are one of the few forms of financial assistance now available from the government.
Chief executive Mark Tanzer said: “Our focus with the Treasury is to make sure we don’t have restrictions coming back. We’re working with the Treasury to give evidence of how quickly restrictions throttle demand.
“We’ve made it clear the sector is in financial difficulties after two years of not trading. But the focus of our discussions with the Treasury now is on making sure restrictions don’t come back.”
Speaking on a Travel Weekly webcast, Tanzer said: “Members have done an incredible job to get this far. We hope now to see bookings strengthen balance sheets. [But] we’re not out of the woods.
“When you start trading the financial pressures grow. It’s going to be a tense period. Ensuring the government is aware of that and that support mechanisms are there is still a priority.”
He noted the government has “made clear that tour operators and travel agents are eligible” for ADRs, but he revealed “less than 50%” of members had accessed the grants to date, saying: “It’s a time-consuming and bureaucratic process, [and] discretion lies with the local authorities.”
Abta hopes to see more members who apply receive grants given government confirmation that travel businesses are eligible and has written to all councils urging them to follow the guidance.
Tanzer insisted: “We’ve done everything to make sure they realise the pressure businesses are under and their eligibility.” He said Abta remains “in contact” with the administrations in Scotland and Northern Ireland “to make them aware”, adding: “I’m hoping travel companies will find it easier to access grants.”
An Abta member survey in December painted a grim picture, with businesses reporting turnover was just 22% of pre-pandemic levels.
Abta urged members to take part in a fresh bookings survey last week “to support this lobbying activity”. It closed on Tuesday.
Tanzer said: “I hope it will be a much-improved picture.”
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