Anticipation is growing that international travel will restart in weeks not months, and last Monday’s reopening of ‘non-essential’ retail stores was a step in the right direction. It allowed travel agent Members with shops to show that they are open and ready for when the Government announces changes to its measures that are limiting travel. 

ABTA continues to be in dialogue with the Government, and whilst it remains unclear how it will restart travel, we are already on that road with confirmation expected soon that people can travel and stay overnight domestically. The Government set the date for this in England as 4 July, and businesses and customers will be looking forward to this being verified.

Each of these steps will help give people confidence to travel, and ABTA, as well as every Member, will have a role to play in contributing to this when quarantine measures are lifted for countries and the FCO travel advice changes to allow people to book foreign holidays in earnest. 

The role of travel professionals will be significant, and ABTA is here to provide whatever support it can. Available on the Member Zone from today is a new Country recovery plan page, which ABTA’s Destinations team has developed using the latest information from governments and tourism associations from across the world on their recovery plans and health and hygiene initiatives. 

This will be kept up to date and further support from ABTA to help Members on the road to restart and recovery will be announced over the coming weeks.

Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive