The Conservative politician also said it was important not to “demonise” those who want to go on holiday, during a debate on international travel in the House of Commons earlier this week.

“First, we must say that we do not demonise those who seek to go on holiday; secondly, we must give real recognition to the value of the sector to the economy; and thirdly, we must be prepared to invest in technology,” said Neill during the debate.

“What can be done to continue furlough and support on a sector-led basis? We need a new sector-specific scheme of recovery grants for travel agents.”

Neill also stressed the need for “clarity” on the government’s current traffic lights system for Covid restrictions and the importance of improving the situation at the UK border through the use of technology.

Other MPs also backed calls for the government to provide more financial support to travel agents through the rest of the Covid crisis.

After the debate, Neill told TTG he was “pleased to see there was a consensus among those participating on the need to do more”.

“I can assure you I and others will continue to press both the Department for Transport and the Treasury on these matters,” added the MP.

Abta has also urged agents and others in the industry to maintain the pressure on their MPs ahead of a second planned parliamentary debate on travel in June. 

Meanwhile Bromyard Travel Services in Herefordshire put the challenges facing agents into perspective during an interview with the BBC on Friday (28 May).

Owner Jason Young described the past 18 months as a “living nightmare” as the business has been “a state of limbo”, and he had to take on a second job as a delivery driver for Tesco to keep some money coming in.