Action needed to support UK tour operators

Commenting on figures released by trade body UKinbound that 88% of tour operators and destination management companies (DMCs) are set to make large scale redundancies as a result of the Covid-19 crisis, unless the Government provides more financial support to the sector, Henry Smith MP, Chair of the Future of Aviation Group said:

“Our travel and tourism industry have been amongst the hardest hit sectors by the impacts of COVID-19 and will take longer to recover than other sectors as a result of the collapse of overseas visitors to the UK.

“We need to ensure that travel and tourism businesses are able to survive the long-term impacts of COVID-19 and when circumstances allow play their role in our wider economic recovery.  We simply cannot allow such an important industry to collapse and damage the communities throughout the UK who are dependent on them.

“These businesses can and will recover but only with Government support that reflects their vital importance to a truly global Britain.”