Ulster Unionist Economy spokesperson, Mike Nesbitt MLA, is calling for the Executive Office to extend and increase support for travel agents whose business has been decimated by the Covid-19 pandemic. This follows information provided by the Interim Head of the Civil Service that indicated the scheme does not cover current financial losses.
Mike Nesbitt said:
"Jenny Pyper, who is currently the senior official in the Executive Office, has confirmed that the scheme for travel agents covers the period 5 March 2020 to 12 March 2021 only. This was based on the assumption that leisure travel would have recovered from lockdown restrictions by early spring.
"This has not happened. As we enter July, people are still being discouraged from travelling abroad, with few countries on the Green List being traditionally popular holiday destinations.
“The fact that the Executive agreed to a compensation scheme proves they accept the principle that they should offer the sector financial support. The practical outworkings demand that the scheme's end date is re-visited to acknowledge the on-going damage to the travel trade and therefore the Executive must, in fairness, increase the grant from its current £10,000 to reflect the ongoing damage to many local, often family owned businesses.”