People are booking holidays abroad despite government travel ban

People are booking their holidays for October throughout the winter and into summer 2022 it has been revealed, despite travel being illegal.

The travel agent Thomas Cook have been looking into peoples attitudes regarding travel and have reavealed where the current hotspots are right now.

Speaking to Sky News, the chief executive of Thomas Cook, Alan French said that they are “still seeing bookings coming through,” as “people are really anxious for and looking forward to a holiday.”

French said that some people are currently booking holiday’s for this summer, but many are securing dates for October, winter 2021 and summer 2022 instead, incase they are unable to travel this summer.

French was asked what holidays are being booked, he said, “Turkey, Greece, Spain are still the favourites for many.

He added, “People are pushing the boat out for next winter. We are seeing Caribbean, Mexico and Indian Ocean being favourites for that.

“We are also seeing people booking later this summer, more in the October time frame than they have historically done.”

French told Sky News, that despite international travel currently being illegal, “We do see holidays being likely this summer.

“It is very soft at the moment, but sitting underneath it is a demand for holidays that isn’t going to go away.

“You can book a holiday now, the industry is offering certainty with refunds and cancellations.”

The Transport Secretary Grant Shapps warned that is it too early to give an “exact date” on when people can go on holiday.

He said that he is unable to provide a “definitive” date or if people will be allowed to leave the UK for a holiday “this next year” either at “home of abroad.”

Shapps said, “The prime minister will make a statement on 22 February, when he’ll be able to set out a route to unlock, very similar to what happened last year, but this time we’ve got reductions in cases through the vaccines as well as lockdown.

“I’m afraid I can’t give you a definitive ‘will there or will there not be’ the opportunity to take holidays this next year, either at home or abroad, but the PM will say more about it on 22 February.

“Then we’ll have a series of dates when we will be able to unlock things, if we see a reduction in cases and deaths.”