Macclesfield travel agent Richard Slater is heading to Westminster on Wednesday, to support the travel day of action.

Richard is the Managing Director of Henbury Travel on 127 Chestergate, who's business is still open today despite his absence at central government.

Representatives from all sectors of the travel industry will come together in London and other cities, to have their say, meet with ministers and lobby the government for the immediate restart of international travel.

The Macclesfield travel expert and his industry colleagues will demand that the government will be transparent with their decisions or provide proper sector specific support like they have offered other industries.

"It's important to stress that the outbound travel industry do not want an open world immediately, we appreciate that not everyone is ready to travel yet," said Richard.

"What we want is a slow, progressive and structured reopening only to areas that are safe, without the need for expensive PCR tests or quarantine.

"The inbound tourism industry wants to see guests from countries vaccinated, or where infection rates are lower than ours to visit to support the local tourist industry."

Slater, who is also the North West Chair for ABTA (The Association of British Travel Agents) said he has written to Macclesfield's MP David Rutley.

advertisement

This is to organise a meeting with him and other people from his constituency to discuss the ongoing challenges facing the travel industry, and the risks to businesses and livelihoods.

"What we are asking Mr Rutley to do is to Speak Up for Travel now to help to ensure the sector can act as a driving force in the long-term economic recovery of the UK," Richard added.

|We hope he will consider lending his support, by meeting me on June 23 [today] to discuss the challenges that still need to be addressed to save our industry and jobs in travel."

At time of press, Mr Rutley has not responded to the Macc holiday expert.

Earlier in the week on the Mike Sweeney show on BBC Radio Manchester, Slater also challenged Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, on live radio for not responding to his request to meet with him to discuss the future of the industry.

Slater raised several points around financial support for the travel trade.

Slater said it was "not acceptable" that he had not heard back from Burnham's office as the travel industry is one of the biggest employers in the north-west region and asked why agents did not receive as much government support as businesses like hairdressers.

After apologising for not replying to Slater, Burnham said: "Richard is raising fair points. The travel industry has been hit by the mismanagement of the travel restrictions internationally.

advertisement

"I don't think it has had the support that it needs. Those industries that have been held back; the support needs to be more targeted on those industries.

You can call the Macclesfield travel agent via 01625 466100, or email [email protected]. Their website is here.

Head to this page for more info about today's day of campaigning.