Over 500 people have already signed a letter addressed to the UK transport secretary Grant Shapps and Chancellor Rishi Sunak, demanding urgent support for the travel sector during Covid-19.

The letter explains the catastrophic impact of the coronavirus crisis on the industry and details why urgent sector specific financial support is needed. Since it was published on 29 July, it has already garnered hundreds of signatures and comments, and has received the backing of ABTA, a UK association of travel agents.

ABTA’s Head of Public Affairs, Luke Petherbridge, urged everyone to: “Support TTG’s efforts and to get behind the #SaveTravel campaign.”

He added: “I am fully on board with the level of frustration across the industry, and all sectors within travel, around the lack of specific support and attention the sector has received to date. It is now time for the government to step up – and supporting #SaveTravel is a useful way to demonstrate the strength of the industry’s feeling, and the urgency of support measures.

“The government must also recognise that the one-size-fits all model, which was a necessity in the early days of Covid-19 to get support schemes in place quickly, and which has provided valuable help to many businesses in terms of the furlough scheme, business rates support and one-off grants, has now run its course.”

Lisa McAuley, Managing Director at tour operations B2B Dnata Travel Europe, added: “I support the campaign because there are better solutions to the ones currently being imposed, listen to us as the experts, work with us not against us, it’s not just livelihoods at stake.

“The travel industry has always faced adversity and crisis, has always found a way to circumnavigate issues and, when required, we collaborate more than most industries. Selling and fulfilling dreams is only part of who we are, we are natural problem solvers. As such our call to government is: ‘let us help you to help us’.”

You can read and sign the letter here.