Merriman, who chaired parliament’s transport committee during the pandemic, warned Aito conference delegates that if they turn their back on politicians and the government, they will lose control of these relationships.

"Build your relationships with them in the times you don’t necessarily need them," Merriman advised. "When you do, they’re there for you, it’s a bit of an insurance policy."

Merriman laid out some step-by-step guidance to help travel businesses engage with their local representatives, pointing towards the "raft" of new MPs who are finding their feet in Westminster and will be keen to meet members of their local business communities, their teams and customers.

"MPs like to see what you do, how it supports their constituents and how it joins together," Merriman continued. "Get a press release done with a photo and then get that published, then you’ve got your MP as a friend. Then consider as an organisation how many MPs have done this."

Merriman also advised a core group of MPs could prove invaluable in bringing together an all-party parliamentary group which, he pointed out, does not exist for travel and tour operators as it does for aviation and hospitality and tourism. 

“Once you’ve got your group supporters, you can get those MPs to write written questions to the department," he explained. "Unlike politicians, who can canter off and not give you an answer, it has to be written by a civil servant. Then have those MPs set up a debate in Westminster Hall, they will represent your interest.

“What you’ve then got is a core group of MPs who are interested in what you do, who understand your challenges and if ever you need to press the button, it means you’ve got that relationship. It’s worth that time, given the downside when things go wrong.”

Merriman saluted travel businesses and owners for the sector’s "quite extraordinary bounce back". However, he warned that with there being a nearly 40% chance of the average person experiencing another pandemic in their lifetime, preparedness was key.

While Merriman’s advice was well received, him being seen as a key ally for travel during the pandemic, he was challenged by conference host and moderator Jono Vernon-Powell on travel’s standing and perception.

"I’ll be frank, but we are totally disillusioned with the system regarding how we as independents were represented," said Vernon-Powell. “At the end of the day, we’re pretty battered and bruised, and that’s not anything more than ‘tough, get over it, we’ve got to get on’."

Merriman, also a former transport minister, responded: “You are right to be dispirited about politicians and what happened to you – but don’t give up on them. There’s a new breed there now to be influenced and to be shown the right way to do things, so they become your friends.

"No matter what people say, I think most MPs are in it for their constituents, not for themselves. You can name the MPs in it for themselves, but you won’t be able to name 650 of them – the bulk of them do a good job. Make them work for you, don’t give up, because then they’ve got an easier ride.”

Writing for TTG earlier this year after deciding not to seek re-election in his Bexhill and Battle constituency, Merriman said he would always have admiration for agents and the outbound sector, and revealed he believed travel had been made a scapegoat during the pande,ic.