The Northern Ireland Executive has announced
a Covid support scheme for travel agents experiencing difficulties as a result
of the pandemic. The Travel Agents Scheme includes
£1.175 million in new funding.
The scheme, which runs from 19 March until 26 March, includes a flat payment of £10k to travel agency businesses operating from commercial premises, or £3.5k payment to self-employed travel agents working from home. Businesses that operate from several premises will be able to apply for funding for each of the premises from which they operate.
Conditions of the grants include that the businesses must have operated from 5 March 2020 to 12 March 2021 inclusive, intend to continue operating and have suffered financial hardship as a travel agent as a result of the pandemic.
Northern Ireland's deputy First Minister Michelle
O’Neill said: “The pandemic has presented huge challenges for our businesses.
Given the necessary limitations on travel, there has been a severe impact on
the travel industry, including travel agents.
“In what will be a very challenging
environment going forward, this funding will help travel agents facing
financial difficulties to continue operating and help to protect jobs.”
Luke Petherbridge, director of public affairs for ABTA, said: “Working
closely with our Save Future Travel Coalition partners - especially the
Association of Northern Ireland Travel Agents - we have been lobbying hard for
Northern Ireland’s travel sector to receive specific financial support in light
of the massive impact that the pandemic has had on their businesses, with
international travel having been severely limited or banned for the past 12
months.”
The Scottish Government introduced a similar scheme in January.