Opinion

'Cutting through the confusion as the summer getaway starts'

Abta’s Susan Deer reflects on the association’s efforts to help agents with the almost ’insurmountable’ task of keeping up-to-speed with the ever-changing travel landscape

'The Olympics should have been an opportunity to relaunch Japan'

’Speak to anyone who was at the 2002 FIFA World Cup or the 2019 Rugby World Cup and they will tell you how good it was – not because of the event, but because of Japan’

'Saga's new-builds are breathing new life into the brand'

Sara Macefield headed to Portsmouth on Monday for a first look around Saga’s second new-build ship, Spirit of Adventure

'Travel needed a jobkeeper approach to Covid, not the furlough scheme we got'

Travel carrying the weight of ’ignorant’ government policy, founder of group travel specialist Groupia, Simon Denning, writes for TTG

'The travel insurance market will bounce back'

Innovation, communication and customer service key to pandemic response and recovery for insurers, Rock managing director Antony Martin writes for TTG

Pata UK&I hails first step towards return to 'meaningful trading'

Pata UK and Ireland chair Chris Crampton, though, warns significant barriers to opening up Asia Pacific region remain

'Our UK restart represents a sense of normality returning'

Royal Caribbean’s EMEA chief Ben Bouldin assesses how "the tides are turning" in the travel industry’s favour

'Sticking together in travel is the only way to go'

’It is collaboration, not competition, that will help us bounce back,’ A&K managing director Kerry Golds tells TTG as travel gathers for a Day of Action (23 June)

'Aito members have lost faith in government'

‘We desperately need sector-specific help and ministers we can trust,’ says Sunvil chair and Aito director of industry affairs ahead of Wednesday’s Travel Day of Action (23 June)

'Travel is on its knees, but the show must go on'

‘While leading the world in vaccinations, we are behind the curve on travel,’ writes Travel Counsellor Andy La Gette for TTG as travel unites for a day of action at Westminster

'Dear Boris - please look 3.9m people in the eye and tell them why their jobs don’t matter'

‘How can Boris Johnson, a man who likes to quote Latin, fail to understand the simple reason the travel industry is on its knees?’

“There is no going back to the way things used to be”

There is no “back to the way things used to be” or “the new normal” – whatever that may mean. Everything is flipped on its head, and it is finally time for a reset.

Jo Rzymowska: ‘We all deserve a touch of luxury at sea’

“I never thought I would feel so emotional about the sound of a ship’s horn”

'In Pride Month, I ask: have we forgotten the protest whilst we party?'

As an “out” transgender woman I feel Pride Month is a multi-coloured beacon that beams brightest in June every year

'Connect emotionally with the reason you fell in love with travel'

"Perhaps nobody has felt the sting of uncertainty and fluctuation than those of us working in the travel"

Could MSC make staycation cruises permanent?

Agent Simon Wright sailed onboard MSC Virtuosa’s maiden voyage and suggests year-round UK British itineraries

'Our clients need agents' expert guidance at this time'

With the introduction of the UK’s traffic light system, the need for a human travel agent has never been greater write TravelTime World director Jackie Steadman for TTG

'Restarting cruise means so much to so many people'

TTG senior reporter was among the first to be there for the start of a new era of cruising – here’s what it meant to him and others to finally get back onboard after cruise’s 15-month Covid hiatus

TTG in Madeira: 'Are holidays worth the hassle this summer?'

After travelling to Madeira with Tui earlier this week, TTG’s special projects editor Madeleine Barber reports on the new holiday travel landscape – and how the changes have affected traveller sentiment

Irene Hays: 'The Godmother and my mother'

They say behind every great man is a great woman, but my dad, John Hays, always said my mum ’isn’t a great woman – she’s an extraordinary woman’

‘Reopening has taken resilience and discipline’

‘As an industry striving to reignite travel, we have had to dance in the dark and pivot constantly to maintain our survival’

'Amber: the most ambiguous and frustrating colour'

Carrier MD Mark Duguid says with such a small green list, clients already booked to amber destinations are left with a lot of decisions to make

Keep calm, and mark 28 June on your calendars

A 17 May restart will undoubtedly be a fantastic fillip for the travel industry, but it must not be forgotten this is just the start of a long journey back to normality

SPAA: 'Clients are moving bookings to English departure airports'

SPAA president Joanne Dooey tells TTG Scottish travellers lack confidence the country will adopt a four nations approach to the traffic light regime and other Covid challenges, despite a pledge by Nicola Sturgeon