NEWS
Trade strives to reassure as fires rage in Europe
Juliet Dennis
Agents and operators have been reassuring and advising holidaymakers amid concerns that raging wildfires in southern Europe could spread to mainstream tourist destinations. Thousands of people have been
evacuated in Greece, Turkey and Italy as a result of the fires, which follow a severe heatwave linked to climate change in a week when the United Nations published a landmark study on the issue. Fires have destroyed thousands of hectares on Evia, an island northeast
of Athens, and follow a series of fires in Turkey, on the UK’s red list, where tourists in the Marmaris region and hotels in Bodrum were evacuated. So far, the trade said the fires had
not stopped clients from booking, but Travel Counsellors UK managing director and chief commercial officer Kirsten Hughes said media coverage may affect clients’ destination choices. “Situations such as these are
dynamic and change quickly,” she said. “Now more than ever, it is important customers book their trip with a trusted travel advisor.” Premier Travel director Paul
Waters said clients had contacted
branches about the situation. “It’s mainly people booked to go to Greece to understand if it might impact their holiday,” he said. Advantage Travel Partnership
leisure director Kelly Cookes said: “We have been able to share updates from people in the different resorts, which has helped to get the correct information. It doesn’t seem to have deterred people from booking.” Specialist operator Sunvil said
it was “keeping a close eye on developments”. Managing director Chris Wright said: “We are certainly
Wildfires have
burnt thousands of hectares across the Greek island of Evia
getting questions but mainly it’s people wanting reassurance that the areas they are planning to travel to haven’t been affected.” He added: “The situation in Evia
is devastating and we are joining calls to support those affected. But in the areas we feature, we haven’t been affected by any fires.” The UN Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report blames human activities for changing the climate and warns of increasing extreme heatwaves, droughts and floods.
More top names to speak at FoT Travel Weekly reporters
More industry leaders have been confirmed for Travel Weekly’s Future of Travel Conference, due to take place in person in partnership with Google on September 15. The newly-announced speakers
join a stellar line-up which already includes the bosses of the UK’s three largest tour operators: Tui northern region managing director Andrew Flintham, Jet2 chief executive Steve Heapy and easyJet holidays chief executive Garry Wilson. Additional confirmed speakers
for the central London event include Nick Stace, chief executive, Saga Travel; Kirsten Hughes, managing director, Travel Counsellors; Gemma
travelweekly.co.uk
Antrobus, owner, Haslemere Travel, and chair, Aito Agents; Juha Jarvinen, chief commercial officer, Virgin Atlantic; Joanna Kolatsis, director, Themis Advisory; Finnbar Cornwall, travel industry leader, Google; and Meg Elzea, industry manager, global travel, Google. More industry leaders are set to
be announced in the coming weeks. The Future of Travel Conference
will return as an in-person event following two virtual events held during the pandemic and featuring some of the biggest names in travel. The Travel Weekly event will
continue a long-standing partnership with Google, and be supported by premium sponsors Begbies Traynor, Deloitte, Essiell, Mail Metro Media
FUTURE CONFERENCE
In partnership with September 15, 2021
and Paysafe, and sponsor Themis Advisory. In addition to a series of
panel discussions, interviews and presentations, the conference will also feature exclusive consumer insight from Google and Deloitte. Lucy Huxley, editor-in-chief of
Travel Weekly Group, said: “The Travel Weekly Future of Travel series had rapidly become established
as a must-attend fixture in the industry calendar before the onset of the Covid pandemic, and we were delighted to be able to continue to deliver the same insight in a virtual format over the past 18 months. “With restrictions now easing
and the industry finally beginning to reopen, it is a fantastic statement to return to an in-person event with the ongoing support of Google and a range of market-leading speakers and sponsors. We look forward to continuing to inform, support and connect the industry’s leaders as they chart the sector’s roadmap to recovery.” Attendance at the conference is by invitation-only and will be in
accordance with all health guidance. i Register interest at:
bit.ly/FoT2021
12 AUGUST 2021 7
PICTURE: Shutterstock/ GeorgiosKostomitsopoulos
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