SPAA urges 'travel is a viable sector' in powerful video

The association said it had created the film to “demonstrate the precarious position” faced by those in the sector as many agents “face an entire year of zero income”.

The video, which shows Scotland’s dependence on global connectivity for its inbound tourism – worth around £11bn to the country’s economy - has been sent to Scottish MPs and MSPs as part of the SPAA’s campaign for sector-specific support for travel agents.

SPAA president Joanne Dooey, owner of three-branch Love To Travel, said agency owners were faced “not only with losing their businesses which employ teams of travel professionals, but with losing their homes and defaulting on loans”.

Dooey said 37% of SPAA members surveyed in August reported they had experienced losses of more than £1m so far this year.

“This position will be far worse now and for far more agencies. We have nothing to sell and no one to sell it to. But, despite this, travel is a viable business sector,” she urged.