A travel agent based in Northern Ireland has described an "unsettling and disturbing" few days following a wave of protests which erupted after a knife attack in north Belfast earlier in the week. 

Transport services have been disrupted as well as local businesses, including travel agencies such as the eight-branch agency Oasis Travel and Ballymena-based Travelmax, which is located around 30 minutes from Belfast.

Speaking to TTG, Travelmax's Savannah Bracewell said: "For our community, it's horrible. It’s very unsettling and disturbing to know that this is happening.

"There were posters from the paramilitary groups organising these protests, saying 'all businesses must close by 11am', no exceptions'," Bracewell explained. "The next day, it was 'all businesses must close by 5.30pm, no exceptions'."

The messages were primarily aimed at businesses in Belfast city centre, but still contributed to the overarching sense of unease. 

"The flyers definitely scared some businesses that are more central to the 'action' – but there's also many that aren't giving in," she added.

Bracewell said Travelmax had not been yet directly affected by the closures given its distance from Belfast, but added some customers had contacted the business to check whether it was still operating.

'It's the first time we've not attended a travel event'

Meanwhile on Wednesday (10 June) evening, the agency was due to attend a major travel trade event in Belfast but was forced to withdraw at the last minute. 

"We would have been travelling 30 minutes to get to Belfast and then a further 30 minutes to get through the city. With everything that’s going on, we didn't want to take the risk for our staff attending," Bracewell continued. "It's the first time we’ve not attended that event."

The decision was not taken lightly. "It’s very frustrating for those in the industry who have gone out of their way to come here and look after us agents," she said. "I reached out to Gold Medal and said, 'I’m so sorry, it's out of my control'. They completely understood."

Bracewell said the current unrest had also revived memories of disturbances in nearby Ballymena last year, when local businesses became caught up in a similar spate of protests.

"It feels like deja vu right now," she said. "A lot of the community that joined those protests were really held accountable to be honest.

"Because of that, I don't think it will be as severe this time around."

Strong booking levels despite unrest

Despite this week's headlines, Bracewell insists the reality on the ground looks different. "I'm sure it looks a different way on social media and on mainstream media as it would in person and living it," she said. "It's hard to really understand what's going on without being here, if that makes sense."

She described evenings as when tensions spike, while daily life has continued in many areas during daylight hours. But she added that unrest has not dampened consumer demand. 

Instead Bracewell described Wednesday as an exceptionally busy day. Travelmax staff booked trips to Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Portugal, as well as a Caribbean cruise.

"It was really busy yesterday; I was working until 10pm, and I still have enquiries to close today," she said. "I'm wondering if it's because people are trying to get away. But, regardless of the reason, for us it's very much 'keep calm and carry on'."