NORTH-EAST travel company Hays Travel has reported its busiest day since the Covid-19 pandemic began amid news the NHS app will be used as a vaccine passport.

Hays Travel, which is headquartered in Sunderland but operates nationally, says customers "seem to be" feeling more confident about booking holidays as it reports its busiest day since the pandemic began.

Bosses say, thanks to progress in the fight against the coronavirus, that "holidays are on the horizon".

Bookings spiked on Tuesday, April 28, a day before the news that the NHS app will be used by holidaymakers in England to prove their coronavirus status to destination countries.

Hays customers are marking dates in their diaries for this summer, next year and even into 2023, while also, on average, spending hundreds more on trips.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced on Wednesday that the NHS app – which is currently used to book medical appointments and order repeat prescriptions – will display evidence that someone has been vaccinated or recently tested.

Bosses at Hays Travel welcomed the news, which followed the launch of its new cruise offering.

Jonathon Woodall, chief operating officer, said: “The news of a Covid app to help facilitate overseas travel is very welcome and with that, the lockdown easing, the vaccine rollout, and the traffic light system to be announced shortly, we can see that there are holidays on the horizon now. 

“Our shops are open and phones are ringing now as more people feel ready to book. To help, we are offering our peace of mind guarantee, pandemic insurance and the support of our skilled travel agents to guide customers through to find the right holiday for them, when and where it’s safe to go. 

“On the high street, customers seem to be feeling more confident about booking and we had our busiest day since the pandemic began this week."

Some 40 per cent of customers are booking for this summer, particularly to European and island destinations, while the rest are looking ahead to 2022. 

Mr Woodall added: “Those booking for 2022 are choosing longer holidays and more luxurious destinations - they want to ensure they get their choice early and take advantage of some really great offers at the moment.

"So far the average cost of a family holiday is £470 more than it was last year as people upgrade to better destinations and accommodation.

“We are booking a lot of these fabulous round Britain cruises that are on offer from some of the world’s leading cruise operators. They start from May, with itineraries ranging from the highlands and islands of Scotland to exciting landscape and city destinations around our coast.

“There are cruises further afield too - there have been several schedule launches on the last few days for worldwide travel which are also going fast."

Hays Travel is also taking bookings for 2023, not least its own chartered flights from regional airports including Newcastle, Belfast and Glasgow. 

The flights are direct to Barbados where passengers will board the P&O luxury cruise ship Britannia for a Caribbean cruise.

While holiday destinations will have their own Covid guidance, people arriving in England are required to quarantine and pre-book two PCR tests from a private firm on a Government list.

The Northern Echo:

The two-test package typically costs between £100 and £200 but can exceed £500.

Negative results from both tests – taken on days two and eight after arrival – must be received before someone can leave quarantine.

The Transport Secretary has offered hope of cheaper Covid tests for holidaymakers as he told MPs the Government has been working to “drive down the cost” of the swabs.

One company on the Government’s approved list is selling a single PCR test for less than £45.