Travel agencies have been the worst hit sector in the services industry,
according to new government statistics, prompting renewed calls from the industry for
tailored government support.
The ONS figures (below) show that travel agents are 90 per
cent down on where they were in February 2020.
The devastating effect of the pandemic on travel agencies was
highlighted a day after the Scottish government announced that it would offer £5
million in support for travel agencies as part of a wider £185 million in targeted
coronavirus support for businesses.
ABTA says that today’s data means the UK and Welsh governments
and the Northern Ireland executive now need to follow suit.
Mark Tanzer, ABTA’s chief executive, said: “Nine months into this crisis, and with the ONS now
clearly showing we’ve been the hardest hit service sector in the UK, travel
businesses need help to get through the difficult months ahead.
“Yesterday the Scottish Government led the way by introducing
specific funding for the travel industry – the UK Government, as well as those
in Wales and Northern Ireland, needs to follow suit.”
.jpg "Credit: ONS")
Credit: ONS