The number of independent high street travel agents and tour operators in the UK fell by 3% during the first half of 2021 compared with the same period in 2020, according to figures from the Local Data Company.
The first six months of year saw an overall reduction of 51 independent agencies as only 114 new shops opened and 165 closed. The worst regions for closures were Wales (-17%) and the northeast (-10%), although both the northwest and west Midlands saw more openings than closures.
The number of multiple travel agencies saw a much steeper net drop of 8.3% year-on-year as there were 166 closures and just 36 openings between January and June.
