Agents take to TV to fight industry's corner and offer advice

With Brits eager to hear if their summer getaways will get the government’s go ahead, agency bosses have appeared on national and local broadcasts to offer reassurance and explain the immense challenges facing the travel sector.

The owners of Deben Travel and Travel Stop in Suffolk, Bedford’s Eagle Travel and The Travel Village in Blackpool have each represented the industry in recent weeks.

Travel Village boss Phil Nuttall was the latest familiar face on our screens – appearing today (2 July) alongside daughter Jess on BBC Breakfast.

During the interview, broadcast from The Travel Village’s office, Nuttall urged the government to appoint a dedicated outbound tourism minister and called for more clarity around travel insurance.

“The consumer needs to make sure they have insurance in place and talk to their insurer. The last thing people want is to travel and not be insured. That would be the worse case,” he said.

“It’s important to clarify with your insurance policy that it’s valid if you get sick while you’re away. A good travel agent can give you that advice.”

His appearance followed that of Deben Travel boss, Lee Hunt, who revealed plans to TTG earlier this week not to sell overseas holidays this summer until the government provided more information on its strategy to restart international travel.