SPAA members to stage Scottish Parliament protest

Organised by the SPAA, the demonstration at Holyrood - set to take place from midday on Thursday (5 November) - will bring together travel agents, association members and representatives from the aviation and tour operating sectors in a “colourful, noisy and peaceful show of strength”.

Protesting travel professionals will demand “a comprehensive and robust" airport testing system be put in place "urgently" and an end to quarantine for travellers, as well as targeted support for the "beleaguered travel sector".

Demonstrators will be looking to highlight the fact Scotland needs its connectivity for its whole economy - not just for holidaymakers - and also how the sector supports 26,000 jobs.

SPAA president Joanne Dooey has constantly urged for action by Holyrood to help the travel industry amid the pressures of the Covid crisis.

In August she wrote: "without some form of urgent support for the travel sector, the whole industry is at threat" and earlier this month, warned agency owners in Scotland were faced “not only with losing their businesses, which employ teams of travel professionals, but with losing their homes and defaulting on loans”.