The Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association said that while bookings should have surged as agents opened their doors yesterday, stores instead "stood empty".

Joanne Dooey, president of the SPAA said: “There’s no Christmas bonus for the travel sector this December.

"There is no post-holiday spike for Scottish travel agents, as holidaymakers’ confidence in travel has been shattered over the last 20 months.

“This will push travel agents who have fought tirelessly for almost two years to save their businesses to the edge."

Dooey added that, with no support from the government for the travel sector, agencies are being "pushed out of business by stealth".

She called for the Scottish government to draw up a structured plan in consultation with all sectors of the travel industry to support the future of Scottish travel "rather than allowing it to wither and die".

The SPAA called specifically for winter resilience grants to help travel businesses stay open and retain staff, a return in some form of the furlough scheme, an extension to business rates relief for high street agents, and assistance in repaying bank loans. 

"It’s hard for the travel industry to watch other sectors receive support when their businesses are in critical positions," Dooey added.