Published on Thursday, March 25, 2021

Advantage Travel Partnership lays out recommendations to Global Travel Taskforce

The Advantage Travel Partnership convened a travel agent taskforce last week to contribute to the recommendations sought from the consortium by the Global Travel Taskforce.

The Advantage Travel Taskforce comprises fifteen travel agencies across the UK.

Advantage was invited to join the working group on consumer confidence by the Government's Global Travel Taskforce to specifically represent the concerns and requirements of the travel agent community.

The fifteen travel agents included a cross section of members across both its business and leisure community.

A six-page submission by Advantage was sent to the Global Travel Taskforce which includes an overview of the value a travel agent provides to the consumer for the end-to-end travel journey, and highlights the specific added value of using a human professional intermediary in times of such uncertainty.

It specifically recommends transparency on criteria placed on destinations aligned to FCDO advice, and a risk-based approach on continued restrictions, taking vaccination rollouts into account.

Reliable and affordable testing, digital vaccination certification, increased alignment between the devolved nations, and improved cooperation with the travel insurance sector are detailed as key elements to be addressed in the Government's report due in April.

"In order to provide Government with a comprehensive set of recommendations we felt it was critical to ensure our members had the opportunity to directly contribute to our submission. Our own taskforce was convened within days of being asked to contribute to the recovery plan and our submission is fully representative of the concerns of our members," said Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO, The Advantage Travel Partnership.

"We appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with Government at this critical time for the industry and look forward to a report which will support the recovery of outbound travel this year."