UK: According to a survey of its members, The Association of British Travel agents estimates around 93,000 jobs have been lost or put at risk by the pandemic.
In response, ABTA has written to the chancellor to attempt to restore consumer confidence and save jobs.
39,000 jobs from its various members are confirmed to be lost, with the additional numbers coming from downward supply chain concerns. This total number represents 18 per cent of all jobs within the industry.
78 per cent of firms are similarly expected to enter discussions about redundancies based on current trading conditions. Most notably, STA Travel filed for insolvency last week, with Hays travel undergoing major job cuts and Tui closing over 100 high street stores.
Mark Tanzer, ABTA chief executive, said: “With the Government’s stop start measures, the restart of travel has not gone as hoped for the industry, and sadly businesses continue to be adversely affected and jobs are being lost at an alarming rate. Coming towards the end of the traditional period for peak booking, we have hit a critical point as existing Government measures to support businesses begin to taper off, the consequence of which, according to this survey of ABTA Members will be ruinous for more people’s livelihoods.”
The group has written a Save Future Travel plan for the government, recommending extended salary support, an Air Passenger Duty holiday, regionalised quarantine, a heightened testing regime, and provision of recovery grants and other business support measures. The group believes that without tailored government travel support, 83 per cent of firms will be critically impacted.
