SCOTTISH holidaymakers have lost all faith in travelling because of the ratchetting up of quarantines. That is the stark warning from the Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association following a week of still greater turmoil in the industry.
Joanne Dooey, president of the SPAA, told the Sunday National: “We’ve previously described the experiences which travel agents were experiencing as ‘torrid’ and last week topped that.
“Bookings at all destinations have dropped like a stone. And that’s not just for Spanish travel.
“Following a week of confusion for travellers – and agents – there is now a total lack of confidence in the Scottish travelling public for any form of travel.
“Spain is by far the most popular destination for Scottish holidaymakers. In the region of 60% of all summer flights departing from Glasgow, for example, are to the Spanish mainland and islands.”
Dooey was at pains to state that public health is paramount but believes that a special case should be made for the Spanish islands.
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‘‘Having seen a copy of the Scottish Government’s department of health data consolidated to 2pm on July 29, there were seven cases diagnosed the previous day in the Canary Islands and one case in the Balearics.
“We’ve been urging the Scottish and UK governments to consider a regional or granular approach to quarantine. It’s disappointing that the Spanish islands are not considered safe.
Dooey points to other popular destinations which are suffering. She added: “It’s also disappointing that The Algarve and Madeira, which also have low rates, remain on the Foreign Office list of places travellers are told not to visit unless their travel is essential.
“Cyprus is another popular destination which remains out of bounds too.”
She is increasingly worried that it will not stop there. “There is also a concern that the ‘safe list’ remains totally fluid and that changes can happen at any time. Luxembourg is the latest country to move from the ‘safe list’ to the excluded list.”
The stress on travel agents is severe and was highlighted last week by TUI UK, the country’s biggest holiday company, announcing mass closures.
The travel giants said that it will close 166 of its high street stores in the UK and Ireland “as it adapts to changes in customer behaviour”.
900 jobs are affected, with 270 lost and the hope that 630 will be saved through redeployment.
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