Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive of ABTA – The Travel Association said:

“While travel agents and tour operators will breathe a little sigh of relief that protection from eviction by commercial landlords has been extended, along with the other insolvency measures, they will still be gravely concerned about their financial future, and ability to retain their staff and keep their businesses going.

“The industry is effectively shut down, unlike many other parts of the economy, and yet these businesses are about to be asked to make a 10% contribution to wages of furloughed staff and pay a third of business rates, when it is Government measures that are stopping them generating income.

“The Government needs to recognise the unique situation the travel industry is in and take action to stop more people losing their jobs and businesses going under, by keeping furlough and business rates costs as they are. It also needs to take the long overdue action of providing targeted grants to the sector - travel agents could only get the lower level of general grant support and tour operators were excluded entirely.”

Details of the Government’s announcement on insolvency measures can be found here - Government extends business support measures - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)