Hundreds get set for Day of Action Juliet Dennis


Hundreds of agents are preparing to support the Travel Day of Action on June 23 to lobby for a safe restart of international travel. Some plan to shut stores to attend events in London,


Edinburgh and Belfast for the Save Future Travel Coalition-led day of action across travel and aviation. Industry staff are encouraged to set up meetings with


MPs at official events, locally or virtually, and support the day on social media, tagging MPs and sharing posts. As Travel Weekly went to press, The Travel Network


Group had almost 100 members registered to go to Westminster; Advantage Travel Partnership reported a “really positive” response from agents wishing to take part; and The Specialist Travel Association (Aito) said members UK-wide were keen to attend. The Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association


is expecting more than 250 representatives from agencies, airlines and airports at Holyrood. President Joanne Dooey said members would be “out in force”.


World Travel Lounge, an agency in northwest


England, is to close all seven of its branches for the day and has laid on a coach to London for 40 employees. Staff will take beach towels instead of banners to wave at the protest. Director David McDonald said: “This is so important. We have to make our voices heard.” Those going to Westminster must register in advance


due to Covid limits. Up to 800 will be allowed on College Green in two 400-person slots, the first from 12.30pm. Jill Waite, co-founder of agent action group Target,


said: “It’s the only chance to get our voice out.” A Target poll found members attending events


would most like to hear from “a real travel agent”, followed by former prime minister Theresa May, who has recently spoken in support of the industry . Aito head of commercial Bharat Gadhoke hopes


the day will attract mainstream media attention. He added: “Last year we would have been heckled, but this year consumer sentiment is more on our side.” The Travel Day of Action takes place days before the first review of the traffic light system on June 28.


Crowdfunding for legal action tops first £20k target


Ian Taylor


A crowdfunding appeal for legal action against the government by Travel Weekly owner and industry entrepreneur Clive Jacobs broke an initial £20,000 target in barely 24 hours. The appeal launched on Monday


will fund legal advice on behalf of the industry from QCs as hopes of a summer restart continue to be choked off. One option is Blackstone Chambers, which won a Supreme Court ruling that Boris Johnson acted unlawfully in proroguing Parliament


4 17 JUNE 2021


in September 2019, and successfully overturned a government attempt to leave the EU without a Parliamentary vote in 2016. A second target of £200,000 has


been set if action goes ahead aimed at forcing transparency on traffic light decisions and to claim compensation. Jacobs declared he was “blown


away” at breaking the target, saying: “The support has come from people in the industry and entrepreneurs prepared to swim against the tide. “The only way we’ll get justice for


our industry is through the courts. My goal is transparency and to make


TRAVEL DAY OF ACTION


How to get involved on June 23 O Attend an organised lobby event. Consult your agency consortium to register for Westminster, London; the SPAA for Holyrood, Edinburgh; and the Association of Northern Ireland Travel Agents for Belfast


O Arrange a meeting with your MP, in person or virtually on the day. Email Abta with any meetings arranged at the London event


O Write to your MP using a templated email provided by Abta


O Follow #traveldayofaction on social media O Take part in a Twitterstorm O Tag your MP or devolved representative into social posts about the day


O Share template posts and graphics on social media O Find out more at: abta.com/traveldayofaction


Clive Jacobs, organiser of the appeal, says: ‘This is about giving some hope to those who work in the industry’


sure those who are being damaged and destroyed get compensation.” He argued: “The government


has given no signs it cares about the industry and the people in it. Despite the best efforts of organisations to lobby the government, they’ve found their efforts ignored. Hundreds of thousands of people are uncertain about their futures. This is about giving some hope to those who work in the industry. I hope it contributes to holding the government to account.” Travcorp Holdings executive chair-


man Andrew Botterill backed the bid, insisting: “It’s time to use the law. I


hope the industry will support this.” Olly Brendon, chief executive of


ATD Travel Services, agreed: “The government has ignored lobbying. They’ve ignored the data. They’ve failed to implement their own policies. It’s time to take legal action.” Lucia Rowe, A-Rosa UK and


Ireland managing director, said: “We need to stand up for travel to give our industry a chance of survival.” Triangle Travel owner Rob


Kenton added: “It’s time to force the


government to listen.” i To donate, visit: crowdjustice.com/ case/travel-industry


travelweekly.co.uk


PICTURE: Unsplash/Yousef Alfuhigi


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