On Wednesday (9 December), the Scottish government announced a new £185 million business support package, which includes £5 million ring-fenced for travel agents.
“We have listened to businesses, and this assistance will be provided on a sector-by-sector basis, targeted at those who need it most," said Scotland’s finance secretary Kate Forbes.
It follows months of lobbying by the Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association (SPAA) and Abta, with SPAA president Joanne Dooey hailing the government’s efforts to "recognise the dire position which many travel agents have found themselves in".
However, Abta and the Advantage Travel Partnership have subsequently led renewed calls for the UK government and/or those of the UK’s other devolved administrations in Wales and Northern Ireland to set up similar support schemes.
“While this is great news to travel businesses in Scotland, we know that many of our members across the UK are currently still struggling to access the much-needed funds to keep them afloat," said Abta.
"We will continue to make the case for travel businesses across all the UK with the appropriate administrations. It’s imperative the Westminster government, and other devolved administrations, set up similar schemes to recognise the unique circumstances that travel businesses have faced throughout the crisis.”
Abta added it was essential the Scottish government implements a testing regime to cut the length of its inbound quarantine requirement "and help to support consumer confidence".
Advantage chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said said she hoped the move by Scotland would "pave the way" for administrations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to "follow suit".
“The news that businesses across Scotland, including travel agents, will benefit from a new £185 million package of targeted coronavirus support is fantastic news for the hardworking travel agents who have worked tirelessly throughout this year, who have generated little to no revenue due to the ongoing lockdowns and travel restrictions," said Lo Bue-Said.
"The Scottish government has listened to the issues that have been raised by the sector, and the finance secretary has provided this package, targeted at those who need it most.
‘Pave the way’
"Over the course of this year, the whole travel industry has been crying out for sector-specific support and we’ve made numerous attempts to request a similar package from Westminster, but so far these requests have been ignored.
"We’re hopeful that this stance from the Scottish government will pave the way, and England and the other devolved nations will follow suit.”
Abta added members should apply for any available grants, and stressed it would engage with the Scottish government to get further details of the scheme and work with the SPAA to update agents.
