Continued from page 33


to seven months over the five weeks to its most-recent research on June 23-25 – the day before the government confirmed the relaxation of quarantine restrictions to a ‘Covid travel list’ of countries. Almost one in five (19%) in


the BVA-BDRC study said they would book a flight by the end of September – up three percentage points week on week – and one in three (32%) said they would do so by the year end. There was a sharper rise in


intention to take a UK holiday, although a majority appear to remain cautious also about immediate domestic travel. One in five (21%) said they


would take a UK holiday by the end of August – up four points week on week – and one in three (34%) said they would do so by the end of September, a seven-point rise week on week. More than half (54%)


expressed an intention to have a domestic holiday by the end of year – up six points on the previous week. BVA-BDRC noted “only


small shifts from week to week” in short-term intentions in its weekly survey of about 1,760 UK adults. However, Spain dislodged


Britain at the top of UK consumers’ holiday plans, according to a daily Destination Index launched by YouGov last week. It recorded Spain as the leading holiday choice, followed by the UK, Portugal, France and Italy, after tracking consumer perception of almost 40 destinations through June in advance of travel’s restart. YouGov reported the UK lost the number-one spot as the government released plans for quarantine-free travel.


‘Keeping people employed in the sector is priority’


The industry has entered “a critical period” and needs people travelling again to save jobs and “to get through the winter”, Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer has warned. Tanzer hailed the end of


quarantine with a ‘Covid travel list’ of countries, but said: “We’re still


32 9 JULY 2020


in a critical period.” He said “what happens over the summer” could determine the extent of job losses. Speaking on a Travel Weekly


Roadmap to Recovery webcast, Tanzer said: “The government furlough scheme will be tapering off from August. Without it, companies would have had severe problems and that hasn’t changed. “If we can get a meaningful


summer in the second half of July, August and September, that will allow companies to build cash reserves and pay refunds and give


Tanzer defends Abta’s approach on quarantine


Ian Taylor


Abta chief Mark Tanzer has rejected criticism of the association for failing to stop the government’s introduction of quarantine restrictions and suggested the Quash Quarantine campaign risked being “counterproductive”. Speaking on a Travel Weekly


Roadmap to Recovery webcast, Tanzer said: “We didn’t join the Quash Quarantine campaign. I don’t think it was the right thing to do. “I understood the spirit of it


and the urgency of getting prompt change. But it’s very difficult if the industry takes a view against


Mark Tanzer


government advice on a health issue, because it is seen to be putting commercial interests ahead of the safety of customers.” Tanzer insisted: “To go out


aggressively against a government policy just put in place can be counterproductive because the government can say, ‘Well, we can’t lose face’.” He said: “What we’ve been doing


is talking to the relevant secretaries of state, pressing them on the urgency and the need for a risk-based approach. We’ve arrived at the right place, whether together with Quash Quarantine or separately.” Quash Quarantine spokesman


Paul Charles asked recently: “How on earth did the travel industry find itself in a situation where quarantine measures were even considered?” Writing in Travel Weekly, he said:


“Lobbying groups and firms who have a seat at the government table should have prevented quarantine measures being introduced. “At some point, there should be


an inquiry into why things went so badly wrong. The 500 travel and hospitality firms and individuals who signed up to Quash Quarantine have had far more impact.” Tanzer rejected that, saying: “I


don’t think that is fair. Sometimes it’s good to have a public campaign, but sometimes it’s better to work behind the scenes with officials and ministers. “The ministers I was speaking to


were very well aware of the urgency before the quarantine campaign. The balancing of health risk against economic risk is the big dilemma of the moment. I’m not sure the Quash Quarantine campaign shed any light on it. What was needed was cool thinking by the Department for Transport, which they have brought to this.”


them what they need to get through the winter.” He added: “We’ve written to


the chancellor arguing there needs to be an extension of the furlough arrangement and salary support on a sector-by-sector basis – some kind of salary support or grant scheme which would reduce the need for redundancies. “The problem is not just the pain


redundancies cause – [job losses] mean the recovery is delayed. “Keeping people employed has


to be our priority.” travelweekly.co.uk


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34