Online travel agency, On the Beach, has taken the dramatic decision to take all holidays this summer off sale.
Due to the continuing uncertainty and the market-wide “lack of appetite for booking amber destinations”, the travel company removed all holidays up until the end of August.
“On the Beach will monitor the situation closely, and return to selling summer 2021 beach holidays as soon as there is more certainty that new holidays booked will take place without disruption or cancellation and that the traffic light requirements can be managed by authorities and consumers alike.”
Simon Cooper, chief executive of On the Beach Group, said: “There’s nothing we like more than sending people on holiday, particularly after the year that everyone has been through.”
“But in the same way that 85% of consumers don’t want to book travel to red or amber destinations because there is no guarantee they will turn green in time for their holiday, equally there is every possibility destinations designated green will turn amber or red prior to customers’ departure.”
“Unlike many of our competitors, we have no interest in selling holidays that are unlikely to happen, as our business model enables us to put customers first, rather than needing to get cash in the door to contribute to high fixed costs, and offering refunds in the form of a voucher when holidays get cancelled.”
This is a temporary measure that On the Beach will review in line with the next government announcement.
