Put summer holiday plans on hold, says Government

Ministers advise against even taking a break in UK as tourism industry faces ‘a tough time’ due to virus

CONSUMERS should not book a summer holiday, a Government minister has warned.

When asked on Today, the BBC Radio 4 programme, about people unsure whether to book a trip, Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, said he “won’t be booking a summer holiday at this point, let’s put it that way”.

Downing Street later confirmed that even taking a break within the UK is not a part of official advice.

Mr Shapps said travellers will want to see what the “trajectory of the disease” is over the next few weeks before making a decision on whether to go away.

The lockdown measures, which rule out all but essential travel, have hit travel firms hard with many people requesting refunds for cancelled trips or delaying future bookings, as Mr Shapps suggested.

Travel agents reacted angrily to his comments and accused him of “undermining confidence” in the sector.

A spokesman for the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) said: “It was a thoughtless comment and not based on any facts about what we know today about the future of the pandemic.

“It shows complete disregard for the UK travel industry, the hundreds of thousands of people it employs and the struggle it is facing in this current crisis.

“It would be better if the Government focused on taking the necessary steps to support the sector rather than undermining confidence in it.”

However, the Prime Minister’s spokesman said “it is a fact” that the rules as they stand do not allow for people going on holiday.

He added: “We are making progress in our fight against coronavirus.

“We are not able to say with certainty the point at which the social distancing measures can be relaxed and in terms of travelling within the UK for holidays that is not something the current guidelines allow for.”

Overseas travel is only permitted essential, he added.

Several online travel agents are still offering deals on summer holidays, despite the Government guidance.

Abta has previously warned that travel firms could collapse unless strict rules on refunds are changed. Agents must refund customers within 14 days if their package holiday is cancelled, but the body said that the rush of claims could mean companies fail.

Mark Tanzer, the chief executive of Abta, said that consumers have been left “in no-man’s-land” and that the call was about ensuring that companies survive and not denying customers a refund.

Some travel firms have been forced to furlough staff.

Mr Shapps said that the Government will not be able to save every single firm but hoped that the travel sector will be able to benefit when the pandemic recedes.

When asked if he could offer any hope to the tourism industry, Alok Sharma, the Business Secretary, conceded that it was a “very tough time”.

He said the Government had made it a priority to support firms and noted that those in hospitality, leisure and retail were benefiting from grants and a “business rates holiday for a year”. He also pointed out that the furlough scheme has been extended.

The Daily Telegraph has previously reported that the cost of plane tickets may have to increase when the lockdown is lifted and international air travel resumes.

This is because airlines could have to introduce social distancing and preventive measures to protect travellers from catching coronavirus. This could include leaving the middle seats on planes empty to keep passengers apart.

Mr Shapps also addressed the issue of rush-hour travel on public transport, suggesting that, when the lockdown is lifted, businesses should encourage employees to avoid peak times where possible to aid social distancing.

He said: “It may well be in the future companies say, ‘Actually, it’s worked pretty well having some of our staff working from remote locations. Why don’t we carry on doing that?’

“Actually, why does everybody have to get up and travel during the rush hour at a particular time in the morning?”

Earlier in the week, Mr Shapps told transport leaders that hand sanitiser and social distancing could be introduced on buses, trams and trains when the lockdown measures start to be lifted.