The UK’s travel industry will unite next week in a ‘Travel Day of Action’ designed to put pressure on the government to support a safe return to international travel this summer.
Organised by 12 travel industry organisations under the banner of the Save Future Travel coalition, activities planned for 23 June include events in London, Edinburgh and Belfast, as well as social media campaigns and materials for writing to MPs.
The beleaguered industry is specifically asking the government to:
• Allow international travel to return safely and in a risk-managed way by properly implementing the global travel taskforce’s plan for a traffic-light system, by expanding the green list in line with the evidence and making restrictions more proportionate, whilst keeping a strong red list to guard against variants.
• And to bring forward a package of tailored financial support, including extension of furlough support, recognising that the travel sector’s ability to trade and generate income is much slower than first anticipated and more gradual than for businesses in the domestic economy.
The day of action is timed to take place ahead of when the government is expected to discuss and decide on the next steps for international travel, which is due to take effect on 28 June.
Anyone working in travel is welcome to take part and support the activities of the day.
In London, an organised lobby will begin in Westminster at 12.30pm. Numbers will be limited to 400 at any one time and attendees must register (via one of the trade associations) for one of two time slots in advance in order to ensure the event is compliant with Covid-19 restrictions.
Attendees are encouraged to invite their MP to a meeting on College Green using the template made available here.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Passenger Agents Association is organising an event in Holyrood, Edinburgh (contact the SPAA directly for more details) while the Association of Northern Ireland Travel Agents is organising an event in Belfast (contact ANITA directly for more details).
All travel industry personnel are also encouraged to write to their MP and highlight the challenges the sector is facing. A template is available here.
Luke Petherbridge, director of public affairs at ABTA – The Travel Association, said: “The Travel Day of Action is an opportunity for the whole industry to urge the UK government and devolved administrations to speak up for travel.
“Throughout this entire pandemic the UK travel industry has had nowhere near the level of support needed to deal with the devastating impact this crisis has had on people’s jobs, livelihoods and businesses. Figures don’t do justice in explaining the financial and emotional toll this has taken on those working in travel.”
Further information will be issued in due course including details of the social media campaign. In the meantime, the industry is encouraged to use the #traveldayofaction hashtag in posts supporting the campaign.