W L
TRAVEL
HOLIDAYS ARE COMING
By Nicola Palmer, Perfect Getaways
I’m delighted that we have re-opened our shops on 1st
July. The last few months have certainly been testing for
everyone and we have been so lucky to have been protected
by our fabulous NHS workers and key workers across many
organisations. Essential services have remained open to look
after us while we were on lockdown and I give massive credit
to every worker that has put their duty before themselves and
served us all.
Our staff have spent the last few months working from home
and dealing with holidays that have been cancelled from mid-
March until mid-July. It’s certainly not easy working from home
in a make-shift environment and we have all looked forward
to the day of seeing our customers again in our shops and
welcoming them with a drink and a smile.
There are now very clear signs that holidays will be coming for
the summer and winter months of 2020 and we are all geared up
to cope with the demand of last-minute bookings at recent-low
prices. As I write this today there are literally hundreds of free
child places available for July, August and September and these
holidays are up to 40% cheaper than for the same holiday in the
same hotel the following year.
Of course, there will be a large number of people who just
do not want to go on holiday this year and that is totally
understandable. Anybody who feels vulnerable will not want
to put themselves at risk and will put their well-earned holiday
back until a time safe for them. But our own studies tell us that
there are still a lot of people across Merseyside and Cheshire
who will take advantage of low-cost holidays and get away in
the summer sun. In a survey we conducted to Perfect Getaways’
customers, 42% of those surveyed said that they will be taking
a summer holiday this year now that the FCO Advice against
non-essential travel has been lifted and the UK government has
stopped its 14 day quarantine for people arriving back into the
UK for those countries they have airbridge agreements with.
The resorts across the world have been working with tour
operators to make themselves safe and inviting and hotel
chains have been putting measures in place to make holidays as
enjoyable as possible. Certainly the feedback we have had is that
they are waiting with open arms to welcome UK tourists again.
There will obviously be certain restrictions when flying and
once in resort but the overwhelming factor for those wanting to
get away this year is an escape into the sun.
Certainly after everything that has happened over the last few
months, we all deserve a nice break.
54 wirrallife.com