- New Travel Rules Result In Huge Increase In Holidays Abroad According To Boston Travel Agents
Travel agents in Boston are reporting a huge increase in the number of holidays being sold for half term.
The huge increase is down to the Government scrapping the amber list for people who have been double-jabbed.
It was announced from October 4th, there will be a single red list of destinations which will require people going abroad to quarantine. Those who have been fully vaccinated will no longer be required to have a pre-departure test before they leave non-red list countries and destinations.
The new announcement from the Government is what the travel industry in Boston, Lincolnshire have been waiting for. It is not just travel agents who are celebrating the news.
Some travel agents are reporting they have never been so busy with so many people coming into their shops to book a half-term break abroad.
With the expensive COVID tests being scrapped, and the quarantine rules being removed, it has made going abroad more affordable.
Alan French, the chief executive of Thomas Cook, described the streamlining of the traffic light system as “a shot in the arm for the travel industry”.
According to Thomas Cook chief executive, their bookings have already gone up 200 per cent compared to August. He expects that number to keep increasing.
Mr French said: “The news today is a shot in the arm for both the travel industry and families up and down the country who are crying out for some much-needed late summer sun.
“Based on our bookings already today, I would expect this weekend to be the biggest of the year so far as people take advantage of the great deals on offer, the new easier rules on testing and the simplified system for international travel.”
Andrew Flintham, Managing Director of TUI UK has said they have also seen a huge increase in the number of bookings for half-term holidays. He also said that he expects a huge increase in bookings for the October half term.
The new travel guidelines will help the travel industry in Boston to get back on their feet. Although this is great news for the people of Boston and the rest of Lincolnshire, one travel agent who did not wished to be named said it could see a huge increase in children being taken out during term time.
The Boston Travel agent explained: “We have seen lots of families book holidays after the October term holidays end. This means they are taking their children out of school and could result in the parents receiving a fine.”
Parents who take their children out of school could be fined £60 per child. However, if you compare the fines to how much parents are saving, the £60 is not putting parents off.