Organisations & Operators,

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has warned the UK government that, with the furlough scheme coming to an end, it has just 30 days left to save travel businesses which are struggling to survive.
WTTC also warns that unless international travel opens up more widely, with simplified controls, the UK is facing a loss of £59 billion.
Hundreds of thousands of employees in the tourism sector are still benefiting from the furlough scheme, the UK government scheme which is due to end on September 31st.
This date coincides with the next Global Travel Taskforce review on October 1st, and WTTC warns that unless travel is opened up significantly by this date, many more people working in the sector could face losing their jobs due to the ending of government Covid-19-related support as businesses are forced to let people go.
Based on 2019 pre-pandemic levels, WTTC estimates that £59 billion could be lost from the economy if travel remains curtailed over the final quarter of 2021 and, furthermore, £8.9 billion could be lost purely due to the lack of inbound travel spending within the UK.ADVERTISEMENTThe UAE has announced a sensible way forward welcoming all fully vaccinated travellers regardless of which country they come from, plus a negative test result, a move that WTTC says will speed up the recovery of its tourism sector and provide a massive boost to its economy.
Julia Simpson, WTTC chief executive, said: “Vast economic wealth and even more jobs in tourism could be lost in 30 days’ time, if significant travel doesn’t resume by the same time the furlough scheme ends.
“Companies are facing a desperate future unless the government supports the sector by introducing sensible controls that build traveller confidence while keeping the UK safe.
“We should allow all fully jabbed citizens and visitors to enter the UK with a negative Covid test.
“There should be no need for quarantine and excessive, expensive testing requirements.”
She added: “The UK government must do everything in its power to protect businesses and jobs in the sector and ensure it doesn’t squander the last quarter of the year.
“This year is in danger of being no better than the last for the tourism sector, despite the incredibly successful vaccine rollout.
“The next 30 days are critical to get travel back on track.
“That means abandoning the traffic lights system and reducing the current testing regime so that it is simpler and cheaper.”
United States
At the same time, the WTTC has criticised a decision from Brussels to recommend EU members reintroduce restrictions on US travellers entering the region.
The decision comes as the Delta variant is sending infections and hospitalisations soaring.
The US is now registering more than 1,000 new cases per day, the highest level since March.
National representatives met earlier this week to discuss and update the list of safe travel countries, a process that takes place every two weeks.
In response, Simpson said: “Protecting public health must remain the priority and WTTC strongly supports safety protocols to stop the spread of Covid-19.
“However, the recommendation to reimpose restrictions on US travellers is a step backwards and will only slow down the recovery of the sector.
“With high vaccination levels in both the US and the EU, we should be looking at opening up travel between these two major economies.
“We need a common set of rules that recognise global vaccines and remove the need to quarantine for people with a negative Covid-19 result.”
She added: “Rather than imposing further damaging travel restrictions, the EU should be encouraging member states to use its ground-breaking Digital Covid-19 Certificate to safely restore international travel, fundamental for the European economy.”

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Travel businesses that are due to renew their ATOL this month are being urged to submit their renewal applications well before September 30th to avoid a delay to processing.
More than 45 per cent (510 of the potential 1,127) of travel companies are yet to apply to renew their ATOL.
While the Civil Aviation Authority said it understands the issues the travel industry is facing, it has a duty to protect consumers and make sure that it has complete and accurate financial information before processing a renewal.
As the responsible regulator and in line with the previous renewal period, this includes asking for readily available additional information to provide an up-to-date picture of businesses’ financial position.
Without this information there may be a delay in the renewal process.ADVERTISEMENTWhile there has been speculation over recent weeks, any conditions placed on licences during the renewal period are reflective of the current licensing framework and the financial information provided.
The future changes discussed in the ATOL Reform consultation have no bearing on current licensing decisions. 
Michael Budge, head of ATOL licensing at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “We would like to thank travel companies that have already submitted their application and supporting information for renewal in good time, as well as engaging with us throughout the process.
“We understand the challenges the travel industry is facing, but travel companies that have yet to submit their renewals are urged to do so as soon as possible.
“The earlier they submit, the more we can engage and support in the licence renewal process whilst acting in the best interest of consumers.
“We are mindful that applicants are looking for quick decisions, but reflective of the industry’s current financial challenges, things can take longer.
“Companies that apply late risk a delay in having their ATOL licence processed.”
Over a quarter of applicants in March applied in the last ten days leading up to the renewal deadline, which created challenges for both the travel company and Civil Aviation Authority.

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Holiday comparison brands TravelSupermarket and Icelolly.com have joined together and become Ice Travel Group.
The deal, first proposed in mid-May, has now completed, with former Icelolly leader Richard Singer becoming chief executive of the new business.
Both brands are to be retained within the new group.
Singer explained that joining up the teams and resources will benefit consumers and the industry: “We will be able to help more British holidaymakers find and save money on their perfect holiday.
“By combining we can create and deliver a stronger and broader outbound and UK offer to benefit consumers and our partners.”ADVERTISEMENTHe added: “The deal is well-timed.
“Many people have not been able to get away for a long time.
“But, recently, holidaymakers from the UK have been steadily returning to the beaches and cities in Europe.
“Outbound demand is at last coming back and bookings are increasing for this and next year.
“I am thrilled to be leading the team at Ice Travel Group and look forward to developing the two brands as the travel industry recovers.”
MoneySupermarket Group is the major shareholder of the new business.
Palatine Private Equity and management, who have been involved with Icelolly for a number of years, hold a minority interest.
TravelSupermarket was founded in 2004 and is based in London and Ewloe, Wales; it helps UK consumers find and save money on holidays, flights, hotels, car hire and travel extras such as travel insurance and airport parking.
Icelolly was founded in 2005 and is based in Leeds; it is a travel intermediary specialising in package holiday comparison and deals.

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The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has commended the European Commission for its leadership and speed in delivering the EU Digital Covid-19 Certificate (DCC).
The body urged states around the world to make it their global standard for digital vaccine certificates.
“The DCC was delivered in record time to help facilitate the reopening of EU states to travel.
“In the absence of a single global standard for digital vaccine certificates, it should serve as a blueprint for other nations looking to implement digital vaccination certificates to help facilitate travel and its associated economic benefits,” said Conrad Clifford, IATA deputy director general.
The EU DCC meets several key criteria which have been identified as important if a digital vaccination certificate is to be effective:

Format: the DCC has the flexibility to be used in both paper and digital format.
QR code: The DCC QR code can be included in both digital and paper format. It contains essential information as well as a digital signature to make sure the certificate is authentic.
Verification and authentication: The European Commission has built a gateway through which the encrypted data used to sign DCCs and required to authenticate certificate signatures can be distributed across the EU. The gateway can be also used to distribute encrypted data of non-EU certificate issuers other issuers. The EU has also developed a specification for machine readable Validation Rules for cross-country travel.

The EU DCC is implemented in the 27 EU member states and a number of reciprocal agreements have been agreed with other states’ own vaccination certificates, including Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine. ADVERTISEMENTIn the absence of a single global standard for digital vaccination certificates, up to 60 other countries are looking to use the DCC specification for their own certification.
The DCC is an excellent model as it is consistent with the latest World Health Organisation guidance and is fully supported by IATA Travel Pass.
Another benefit of the DCC is that it enables holders to access non-aviation sites in Europe that require proof of vaccination, such as museums, sporting events and concerts, IATA said.

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The Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) has sent an open letter to PCR Covid-19 test providers warning that a range of harmful practices in the sector could breach consumer protection law.
The move comes after the government removed more than 50 test providers from the official list, after it became clear they did not exist.
Now, the CMA has warned some companies are advertising up-front prices for PCR tests which do not include additional charges that everyone must pay.
There are also concerns businesses are advertising cheap PCR tests which are only actually available in very small quantities or are not available at all, or failing to deliver PCR tests or provide results within stated timescales, or at all.
The CMA has also unearthed evidence of testers refusing to provide consumers with refunds where tests are not provided within advertised and/or agreed timescales, or at all.ADVERTISEMENTThe letter from the CMA instructs PCR test providers to ‘immediately review their practices and policies to make sure they are in line with the requirements of consumer law and to make any changes where necessary’.
CMA general counsel, Sarah Cardell, said: “PCR test providers should be in no doubt that they need to get on the right side of the law. If they don’t, they risk enforcement action.
“Our advice today will also help people by setting out exactly what they should expect for their money.
“This warning goes hand-in-hand with action taken by government this week and is the latest step in our work to tackle rip off prices and bad service.
“We continue to work closely with Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) in reviewing this market and will be providing further advice to DHSC on action that can be taken.”
The letter lists 11 steps providers should take, including not focusing their advertising on cheap tests which are only available in small numbers; showing the full cost of tests including all compulsory charges; and providing ‘honest, accurate and clear’ timescales on when tests will be received.
PCR test providers should also ensure that PCR tests and results are provided within advertised timescales.

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The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is warning travellers not to leave themselves unprotected when booking last minute deals to holiday destinations.
With many popular destinations now open for visitors, lots of travellers are expected to be searching for bargain trips abroad.
However, it is more important than ever to check that a trip is financially protected, the CAA said.ADVERTISEMENTIf you are booking a package holiday, make sure that it is financially protected by the ATOL scheme. 
ATOL protection means that if the travel company you booked with ceases trading, you will either get your money back, or, if you have already begun your holiday, be able to complete your trip at no extra cost.
It is important to look beyond the price of some offers and make sure there is ATOL holiday financial protection in place for your trip.
Not all websites ending in .co.uk will be companies based in the UK too, which means they may not offer financial protection.
There are a few ways to check if your travel company is covered before you book:

If the ATOL logo is on their shop window, website or brochure
If they have a unique four or five-digit ATOL number
If they are listed on our ‘Check an ATOL’ page on our website

Andy Cohen, head of ATOL at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “With travellers eager to get away, we urge consumers to do their research and look beyond the price when booking last minute getaways to hotspot destinations.
“It is more important now than ever that travellers make sure they are financially protected when travelling.”

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More than 80 private travel testing companies will be issued a two-strike warning after failing to maintain suitable standards for consumers.
The businesses could be removed from the official list after issuing misleading prices, the health and social care secretary announced.
Following a rapid review of the pricing and service standards of day two and day eight testing providers listed on the government website, 82 providers have been identified as displaying lower prices there than are available on individual websites at the point of checkout.
The government website will be updated to reflect the true cost of the tests and companies will be warned this week that they will be removed if they advertise misleading prices again.
The decision impacts on around a fifth of all providers.ADVERTISEMENTA total of 57 companies will be removed from the list today as they no longer exist or do not provide day two and day eight testing.
As part of the ongoing review, regular spot checks will be introduced from this week to make sure companies are complying with the rules to ensure prices displayed are accurate, providers are legitimate and companies have not changed their name to get back on the list.
Health and social care secretary, Sajid Javid, said: “It is absolutely unacceptable for any private testing company to be taking advantage of holidaymakers and this action clamps down on this cowboy behaviour.
“Some 57 firms will be removed from the government list and a further 82 will be given a two-strike warning – if they advertise misleading prices ever again, they’re off.
“We are also introducing regular spot checks this week to make sure all private providers follow the rules and meet our high standards of transparency.”
The findings of the review will be shared with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to support their own review of the market and align recommendations and actions.
Rory Boland, Which? travel editor, said: “It is inexcusable that it has taken the government nearly half a year to properly audit its own list of private test providers to remove firms that don’t exist and others advertising misleading prices.
“The number of firms being taken off or facing a warning shows the huge difficulty travellers face in choosing a trustworthy, reliable test provider.
“Many will have faced delays and missing tests because they used cowboy firms listed by the government.
“While it is frustrating that it has taken so long for the government to clamp down on rogue providers, with many summer holidays already ruined, it is vital that it now takes immediate action to remove any companies not following the rules.”

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The Advantage Travel Partnership has announced a 40 per cent increase in membership enquiries year-on-year with particular growth in conversions of Advantage Managed Services (AMS) and home working members.
From the onset of the Covid-19 crisis, the consortium has increased communication with members, provided useful and supportive webinars to tackle every issue from refunds to re-openings, actively lobbied government and given the travel agent a clear voice via national and regional media channels on issues such as furlough, the traffic light system and testing requirements.
New Advantage member, Natasha Mouscos, commented: “We recently joined Advantage and we have found that all the team have been very supportive, we are already seeing the commercial benefits to joining and the security of operating within a consortium is great for us.”
In addition to an increase in members in the UK, the organisation has also welcomed two new members from Australia into its international network, WIN. 
The Bay Travel Group and FBI Travel bring the total number of global members to 91 with representation across 82 countries.ADVERTISEMENTKelly Cookes, leisure director, Advantage Travel Partnership commented: “We are especially seeing an increase in enquiries and subsequent conversions of AMS members.
“Our AMS product is unique in the market-place with all customer monies protected in trust and a franchise ATOL option.
“Our trust facility provides an additional level of security not only for our members but also for customers.
“This has been an incredibly tough year and throughout we have tried to adapt our services to best support our members and hopefully get them through the tough times and into a period of recovery.”

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