Owner of Berkhamsted travel agent calls for more Government support during coronavirus pandemic

The owner of a Berkhamsted travel agent has called for more Government support for the travel sector during the coronavirus crisis.

Jackie Steadman, owner of Traveltime World, wants a clear exit strategy from the Government and more financial help.

She said: "As an industry we have been through a lot from ash clouds to terrorism, but this is like nothing we have seen before.

"This is an unprecedented time for the travel industry.

"The travel industry can not close its doors, we have been working the whole time and although we did furlough some staff in March, we have had to keep running.

"In March, we had customers in Spain when they went into lockdown and we had people who were on holiday all across the world, we had to work 24/7 to get everyone back.

"Once they were home, it was on to the cancellation of Easter holidays that people had booked and we had to get refunds for people and contact the airlines to get refunds.#

"Then it was on to the summer holidays.

"We are now working on the ski holidays, that are supposed to be going in December 13, if they do go ahead, when they come back, if quarantine is still in place they will have to quarantine over Christmas.

"Then there's the Canary Island holidays over Christmas and New Year. It is like a constant treadmill that you can't get off.

"We do not get commission if people do not fly, so we have had no income since March. We have received the bounce back loan and the grant from Dacorum, but when you are having to still run a business, that does not last long.

"We want sector support, the furlough scheme and grants are not enough, we need more financial support to keep the industry going, we still have bills to pay and we have had to stay open to help and support our customers.

"We want a clear exit strategy from the government, what are they going to do to get people travelling again safely and economically.

"In Europe, they are doing tests for 40 euros, why can't we have something like that.

"The amount for a family of four to get tested here before going on holiday, is too much."

The Government has set out a £200 billion response to protect jobs, incomes and businesses. The aviation industry can draw on this package of economic measures that has been put in place during this time, including the job support.

Traveltime World, an independent travel agent, has been on Berkhamsted High Street for 26 years.

Jackie added: "The travel industry employs over half a million people, could you imagine if they all become unemployed.

"In our area we have a big travel industry, there's Luton airport, easyJet, TUI.

"At the airport you have baggage handlers, cleaners, shop staff, security, flight staff, check in staff, the list goes in.

"We just want support now from the government and a clear plan on how we will move out of this."

The Global Travel Taskforce is working to identify and implement options to reduce the self-isolation period through testing while protecting public health, and will provide an update shortly.

An aviation recovery plan will go further to explore the return to growth of the sector, the aviation workforce and skills, innovation and regulation, as well as climate change and decarbonisation.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “We recognise the impact national restrictions have on the travel sector and we will continue to keep doing everything we can to help this critical industry.

“The furlough scheme has been extended, and the Government is providing wider support through action on airport slots, loans and tax deferrals.

“The Global Travel Taskforce is working at pace with industry to develop measures to support aviation’s long-term future and enable the safe and sustainable recovery of international travel.”