Travel companies struggle due to term-time holiday rules
Over eight out of 10 travel companies have been financially impacted since the Government implemented restrictions on term-time family holidays.
A survey by Travelzoo reveals 85% have seen a financial impact since September 2013 and 66% will have to take measures to mitigate losses, such as making staff cuts and/or cancelling departures.
A similar figure – 67% – said it was unacceptable that the travel industry wasn’t consulted ahead of the legislative change.
Travelzoo Europe managing director, Richard Singer said: "A quarter of the travel companies we surveyed said that they might have to put prices up during the summer holidays to counteract the drop-off of families travelling during term time.
"We want to bring the industry together and are taking steps to form an alliance of operators and travel companies who want to work with the Government to ensure that the situation improves for parents and the industry alike."
Meanwhile, 200,000 people have so far signed up to the Parents Want A Say campaign, set up to force the Governement to overturn the amendments to the term-time family holiday rules that were introduced in September 2013.
ABTA says most of its members support the idea of staggering school holidays.
The price of holidays during school breaks will be discussed in a parliamentary debate today after almost 170,000 people signed an e-petition raising concerns about holiday companies ‘cashing in on school holidays’.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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