To ask the Minister for the Economy for her assessment of (i) the need for support to travel agents; and (ii) the contribution that the travel sector makes to maintaining key air routes to Northern Ireland.

Support for Travel Agents

I refer to my response to AQW 8411/17-22, raised by Mr Dickson on behalf of this industry.

Contribution of the Travel Agency sector to maintaining key air routes to Northern Ireland

There is no available statistical data to determine the contribution that business and travel, generated through local travel agencies, makes to maintaining key routes to Northern Ireland, or indeed to the local economy.

However, it is widely accepted that the travel agency business model in Northern Ireland is based on marketing and selling travel packages and services to destinations throughout the world.

Indeed, as stated in my previous response, (AQW 8411/17-22), the local travel industry has been impacted particularly hard as a result of the restrictions and reduction in foreign travel.

This is due to the fact that we have been and are still very much in the midst of a public health crisis, and all of the decisions that have been made in relation to foreign travel for Northern Ireland residents have been deemed necessary by the NI Executive, based on the very latest health advice and scientific evidence.