Miles Morgan – owner of Miles Morgan Travel – wrote to his local MP for Monmouth, David T C Davies, a number of times to highlight the dire straits the industry is in and seek support for the sector.
In his latest letter, Morgan wrote: “Boris is making a big roadmap announcement on 15 or 22 Feb from what I can gather. Whilst international travel will not be ready to open then and for a while, it is crucial that his roadmap announcement includes the conditions to reopen international travel.
“We appear to be demonised for being the source of both the Brazil and South African variant despite both now being found "naturally" in the community. The country is getting in a good place for summer with excellent progress but I fear that the demonising could cause us to be stopped for the whole of this summer and if that is the case, without an extension of furlough, the travel industry will disappear.
“It is worth reminding ministers that the industry is not just airlines and airports which seems to be their total focus. Tens of thousands are employed across the sector outside these two areas.
“Pulling up the drawbridge to international travel is not a solution, unless it is never to be reopened.
“We need to plan our business and can only do that with certainty of the conditions required to reopen international travel.
“Can I ask you to write to Boris Johnson asking for this to be included in his roadmap later this month?
“Tens of thousands of jobs, as well as my whole business, rely on it. After almost 12 months of pretty much zero income, we need to see the light at the end of this tunnel and need a plan!”
Davies responded, stating the government was “fully aware” of the issues raised by Morgan and the industry.
“I understand they are actively looking at a roadmap for reopening this sector,” he wrote.
“I appreciate this is not the response you were hoping for but I hope the information provided goes some way to reassure you.”
