The consortium, which represents nearly 50 agency businesses in Scotland, says four in five of its Scottish members will run out of cash by next May if there is no further consideration for the impact of additional restrictions on travel.

Advantage’s warning comes after it was confirmed this week that 11 local authority areas in Scotland would be placed under the country’s strictest Tier 4 Covid restrictions for three weeks starting 6pm on Friday (20 November).

Not only do the restrictions prolong the closure of non-essential high street retail premises, including travel agencies, they will prevent more than two million people travelling outside their local authority area.

“The ban on international and domestic travel across the majority of Scotland as a result of the new lockdown measures will further damage the travel industry there," said Advantage leisure director Kelly Cookes.

"While we absolutely support measures to keep us all safe, the reality of the new lockdown means many of our travel agency members in Scotland will not last the year without a financial support package from the government – 50% of jobs from our members have been lost since March, and 80% will run out of cash by May.

"We urge closer collaboration between the administrations of the devolved nations and the UK government to take into consideration the huge impact further restrictions will have on the travel industry across the country.”