A poll by Personal Travel Agents at Co-operative Travel found 79% of more than 1,000 existing clients and non-customers more likely to book with an agent due to the impact of Covid-19 on taking a holiday abroad. The remainder said they would continue to book direct online.

The survey, conducted 4-11 September, found 85% of customers had not taken a holiday in 2020. When asked about their travel plans for the coming year, 73% said they would take a holiday abroad – 22% even if they had to quarantine and 51% only if they did not.

“The expertise and financial protection that booking with a travel agent provides has never been more crucial to holidaymakers than it is right now,” said Sheena Whittle, head of The Personal Travel Agents at Co-operative Travel, which has 160-plus homeworking agents. 

“Our survey shows that customers are eager to get away on holiday but are concerned and confused by the quarantine rules and the ever changing FCO advice. As a result, they are seeking out trusted travel agents to help them decide where and how to holiday.”

The poll found staycations jumping in popularity, with 47% saying they would take one next year, compared with only 10% in April. Encouragingly 56% said they planned both an overseas and a UK holiday in 2021.