UK: Travel chief scorns 'puerile' holiday plan warning

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps' call for people to stop making summer holiday plans has been branded "puerile and nonsensical" by a senior travel industry professional. "We're talking about the end of May or June, which is a long way off," said Sue Ockwell of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO). Shapps said there was too much uncertainty because of Covid. But Ockwell said booking breaks gave hope to holidaymakers and the industry. "It's something for people to look forward to and to keep travel companies going," she said. Earlier, Shapps said: "Please don't go ahead and book holidays. I simply don't know the answer to the question of where we'll be up to this summer. It's too early to give that information. The best advice to people is: do nothing at this stage." PM Boris Johnson later said it was "just too early for people to be certain about what we'll be able to do this summer".<br/>