‘This can be year of domestic tourism’


Juliet Dennis


Travel agents have hailed the opportunity to promote 2020 as ‘the year of domestic tourism’ and capitalise on UK sales as uncertainty remains over the possibility of overseas holidays. Some warned it would take


a collaborative effort and called for support from operators and a national marketing campaign. Tour operators, holiday parks


and hotels plan to open with social distancing and health and safety measures from July, while VisitBritain has made a case to extend the UK holiday season until October and for a bank holiday to be added that month. Haven’s no-frills Haven Hideaway


breaks start from July, while Great Little Breaks is to make its agent portal live in June. Writing in this week’s Travel Weekly,


Barrhead Travel president Jacqueline Dobson noted “inevitable demand” for UK breaks over the coming years, but said: “Some operators have turned away from the trade. At a time when we should be pulling together, this is really frustrating.” She told UK operators: “There’s


a real opportunity to work together to deliver new experiences and alternative options for our customers.” Westoe Travel director Graeme


Brett said now was the time for a national marketing campaign to promote UK breaks and called on VisitBritain to work with the trade. “It would help all of us,” he said, adding that it was critical operators such as Hoseasons, which stopped taking new trade bookings last month to focus on existing bookings, allowed agents to book. The plea for a collaborative effort


came as VisitBritain called for clarity on how the government would support the domestic sector. Acting chief executive Patricia


Yates declared 2020 as ‘the year of domestic tourism’ but told MPs on Tuesday: “There is a real job to be done in convincing people that it is socially responsible to travel and that it is safe to do so.” VisitBritain predicts the £80 billion


domestic tourism industry, spanning holidays and day visits, will suffer a £22 billion drop this year. Its latest domestic tourism


research on travel intentions this year showed 74% of UK consumers with a holiday booked between July and September believed their holiday would not go ahead and only 19% of people were “talking about booking


domestic holidays for the summer”. i Comment, page 14 i How to sell staycations, page 20 i Postcard from Cornwall, page 24


Trade pins hopes Ian Taylor


Industry hopes of a relaxation of travel restrictions focus on the establishment of ‘air bridges’ between the UK and selected countries in Europe after the government confirmed quarantine measures will be introduced from early June. But senior figures warned


countries with low rates of Covid-19 infection to avoid isolation. He said: “Final details will be


STORY TOP


it must be allied to a relaxation of indefinite Foreign Office advice against all but essential travel. Transport secretary Grant Shapps


confirmed the requirement for all arrivals to self-isolate for 14 days “will initially be blanket” on Monday, with the regime backed by spot checks and fines, and exemptions limited principally to freight drivers. But Shapps told MPs the


Looe, Cornwall 4 21 MAY 2020


quarantine measures could be adapted to allow arrivals from


released soon and come in early next month. We should consider improvements, for example ‘air bridges’ enabling people from countries that have achieved lower levels of coronavirus infection to come.” The government


confirmed the restrictions will


be reviewed every three weeks. Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary


slammed the plan as “bonkers” and forecast the government would be “embarrassed” into withdrawing it. The Airlines UK association


warned: “Airlines are not going to operate if people are effectively told not to travel.” However, Tui chief executive Fritz


Joussen downplayed concern, asking: “Does it make sense to keep it for a long time? I don’t think so.”


travelweekly.co.uk


Transport secretary Grant Shapps


PICTURE: Shutterstock


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