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Coronavirus: ABTA calls on government for urgent travel & tourism support plan

ABTA, travel, UK, tourism, coronavirus, cruise
photo_camera Association of British Travel Agents

Leading UK travel association ABTA is calling on the government to consider “extraordinary” support measures for businesses operating in the UK’s travel and tourism sector in light of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

Ahead of its 11 March budget, the association wrote a letter to prime minister Boris Johnson urging the government to take action to protect healthy businesses that may suffer financial distress.

Measures suggested include bridging loans, a relief to business rates, VAT and PAYE deadline extensions and reliefs and a six-month ‘holiday’ from Air Passenger Duty.

This came about following a meeting with the tourism minister last week and ABTA conducting a survey among its members to ask them about business impacts if the Covid-19 outbreak continues to worsen.

As the situation has developed, ABTA members have received an increasing number of questions from concerned customers about their travel plans.

With updates to travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office affecting mainland China, Italy and parts of South Korea, members have been liaising with customers with imminent package holidays to offer alternative arrangements.

In a survey of members last week, 88 per cent said that they are receiving enquiries from consumers that are due to travel to areas that are not even affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

Meanwhile, ABTA is conducting advanced media and communications activity to provide perspective, give accurate information and guidance to the travelling public and highlight the benefits of booking package holidays, which come with a range of consumer protections.

These messages have been communicated to national and regional media, amounting to more than 400 pieces of coverage since the end of January alone, with a combined reach of over 200 million viewers, listeners and readers.

ABTA has also been running a proactive paid for Facebook campaign to target people looking to travel with its latest advice. This has so far resulted in over 850,000 impressions and will continue to engage with travellers over the coming weeks.

Today (10 March), ABTA is hosting a conference call with members to provide an update on the situation and address questions. A recording of the call will be made available the following day at abta.com/coronavirusguidance.

ABTA’s chief executive, Mark Tanzer, comments: “As the outbreak of coronavirus develops, travel businesses are under increasing pressure. They cannot wait to see what may happen in the months to come, we are asking the Government to act now in taking steps to protect them.

“Among the travelling public, our priority remains to be proactive in providing up to date fact-based information and to give perspective so they can make informed decisions. We are also explaining the protections that are in place if they’re no longer able to travel.”

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