UK: The petition, set up by Encounters Travel sales manager Anthony Horrobin, has received around 29,500 signatures as of 1pm on Wednesday 9 September.
Horrobin is urging chancellor Rishi Sunak to extend the furlough scheme for businesses operating within the travel industry.
The scheme is currently scheduled to close on October 31. It was established so that the government could pay a percentage of employees wages, and for employers to top this up to ensure employees received 80 per cent of their wage.
Each month, the scheme gradually being wound down. For example, the government will pay 70 per cent of employees wages to a cap of $2,187.50 for September. Come October, this will be reduced to 60 per cent up to a cap of £1,875.
Horrobin said: “While many industries are now able to trade either fully or partially, the travel industry is being disproportionately affected by travel restrictions and quarantines being imposed by the government… While restrictions remain in place, imposed by the government, we cannot trade fully or make a recovery.”
As the petition has reached over 10,000 signatures, the government is expected to respond. Should it reach 100,000 signatures, the petition will be considered for debate in Parliament.
The petition can be found here.
