Richard Slater, MD at Henbury Travel and North West Chair of ABTA provides the latest update on Covid-19 and the travel industry.

The press are reporting today that you can be fined for going on holiday.

Our take on this is that it is currently illegal to go on holiday, and has been illegal since December 2020.

Therefore nothing has changed apart from the fact the government can now fine you if you break the law.

The travel ban will remain in place until at least the 17th May 2021, so currently we are only taking foreign holiday bookings from 1 July 2021, but this is under review if things positively change.

On a more positive note, the Government's Travel Taskforce has been in talks with ABTA, the airlines and travel companies and an announcement will be made by Boris Johnson on 12th April.

On the grapevine we are hearing some positivity.

Please don't be alarmed by media sensationalism as nothing has changed, and as ever, your ABTA travel agents are here for you if you have any questions.

Of course, booking a holiday for a later date is NOT illegal, and many of you are making plans and booking for later in 2021 & into 2022.