Tour Operators’ Pain Seen Through UK Businesses Suffering ‘3 Winters in a Year’
Photo Credit: The UK's latest quarantine measures have dented the consumer's confidence to book holidays. Unsplash / MChe Lee
Skift Take
A no-show summer and the residual impact of the pandemic has dealt the independent tour operating sector a blow it simply wasn't prepared for.
Independent tour operators in the UK are “petrified” for the future, after a cancelled summer peak season and rising numbers of failures in the sector.
They're also caught between conflicting government advice and strict consumer protection regulations that have left them out of pocket, offering a glimpse into the plight of a once-vital industry on the frontlines of global travel.
Luxury operator Destinology, which was part of over-50s specialist Saga, is one of the latest casualties, announcing on its website today (September 10) it has closed.
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Short-break specialist Cities Direct, which was a member of Aito — The Specialist Travel Association, ceased trading on September 7, after 20 years in business. On the same day, TrekAmerica, part of Travelopia, also shut down. Meanwhile, Kuoni has laid off at least 59 employees and has set up a “talent finder” website to
