Your Co-op Travel has forecast an increase in demand for last-minute holidays, thanks to a deal to offer discounted tests through sister brand Your Co-op Pharmacy.
The limited changes announced in last week’s traffic light travel update will also encourage more late bookings, according the agency, which is part of The Midcounties Co-operative.
The Covid-19 tests are being offered to customers of the independent travel company’s 76 Your Co-op Travel and Carrick Travel high street travel agencies, from £21 for an antigen test and £48 for a PCR, plus postage.
Holidaymakers who book online at cooptravel.co.uk, or via Your Co-op Travel’s call centre, will also have access to the tests at the discounted price.
Since Thursday’s travel list announcement (August 26), the three most searched-for destinations on www.cooptravel.co.uk for last-minute getaways have been Malta, Croatia and Majorca.
Popular hotspots such as mainland Spain, the Balearics, Canaries, Greek islands and Cyprus are also seeing an uplift in bookings and enquiries for travel in September and October 2021.
Sara Dunham, travel and leisure chief officer for The Midcounties Co-operative, said: “We’re anticipating that the stabilising of the green and amber travel lists will inspire a rush of autumn bookings from holidaymakers who are desperate to get away.
“Customers are seeing that it is possible to enjoy a much-needed holiday this year and confidence is growing, thanks to the various protections that trusted travel companies like Your Co-op Travel have in place.
“Being able to offer affordable, reliable and convenient Covid-19 testing goes a long way to reassure our customers, who look to our expert travel agents to navigate them through the traffic light system and any entry and testing requirements they will need to meet.”
The tests are supplied by government-approved, UKAS-accredited providers Randox and C19 Testing, and can be ordered directly from the Your Co-op Pharmacy website.