A TOUR operator has already announced it is cancelling some holidays in 2022, and more could follow.
Saga, which specialises in holidays for over 50s, has pulled a number of 2022 departures due to travel uncertainty as cases of the Omicron variant increase.
According to Travel Weekly, around 3,000 Saga bookings have been affected.
The tour operator is blaming the pandemic and ongoing uncertainty around international travel, saying it wants to offer “high quality” trips to its customers.
Affected customers will be offered an alternative holiday or a full refund.
A Saga spokesperson said: “The market for international travel remains uncertain following the pandemic and, against this backdrop, Saga has reviewed the holidays it is offering customers.
“Central to this is ensuring that we are offering the trips our customers want and that we are confident we can deliver to the very highest quality and with the least potential for disruption.”
The travel industry is suffering as concern of the spread of the Omicron variant prompts more restrictions.
Ryanair has also cancelled thousands of flights to Morocco until February 2022 due to the current flight ban, while Eurostar has cancelled direct routes to Disneyland Paris until at least March 2022.
Every traveller entering the UK now needs to take a PCR test within 48 hours of arrival and isolate until a negative result comes back.
Scottish and Welsh First Ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford have called for more emergency measures to combat the new strain spreading in the UK.
They are urging the Prime Minister to go further by forcing people to do a day eight test as well, and isolate until that comes back negative.
Ten countries are on the travel red list: Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Angola, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini and Namibia.
A British couple were recently forced to come home early from a holiday in Cape Town after it was added to the red list – and are now facing a £3,700 quarantine bill.
New rules have also been put in place for Brits travelling to the US, with all arrivals having to have a negative Covid test 24 hours beforehand.
