Travel: Hays Travel chair says ‘we are very optimistic’

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Grant Shapps is set to make an announcement in front of Number 10 this morning, informing Britons of the latest easing of travel restrictions. The transport secretary is expected to say that double-jabbed Brits will be able to travel to amber list countries quarantine free. Some industry leaders remain “optimistic” that travel will continue to open up over the coming weeks.

Dame Irene Hays, Chair of Britain’s largest travel agency, Hays Travel Group, appeared on Sky News this morning to discuss the upcoming travel update.

She said she remained “very hopeful for the announcement” as many Britons had already come to her company to express their “significant” interest in travelling this summer.

Dame Hays explained: “We’ve brought back all our staff in all our shops across the country.

“The logic behind that is irrespective of the announcement that we get from the transport secretary.

“Either way, people will either want to book a holiday, and we know that because our enquiries have gone up significantly since Monday.

“Or, they’re going to need some help to perhaps look at alternatives or to put their holiday back.”

Speaking about the transport secretary’s expected announcement, the Chair continued: “But we are very optimistic and it will be very good news for the travel industry.

“It’s important that we get some clarification on children this morning and I’m hopeful that children will be allowed to travel with their parents this summer.”

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Dame Hays explained that her company had received more enquiries for 2021 this week than for 2022 and 2023.

However, people’s preferred destinations have stayed the same.

“The destinations that people want to travel to are still the favourite destinations for the summer,” Dame Hays said.

She went on to say that one of the main countries Britons want to travel to is Spain.

The Chair said: “Obviously we’ve had the Balearics on the green list for a while now.

“But the rest of Spain still counts for Hays Travel for 28 percent of the people travelling from July 19 until the end of August.”

Therefore, some Britons are already currently in Spain.

But, Dame Hays explained, “many of them still want to go there”.

The Chair of Hays Travel Group continued: “Greece is still popular.

“Malta is increasingly popular.

“And the Balearics continue to do well.

“So, they’re still the most popular destinations at the moment.”

Dame Hays added: “People are choosing to spend more on their holiday and they intend to stay for longer.

“There is a general trend.”

Grant Shapps is expected to make the latest travel announcement at around 11:30am this morning.

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