THIS Morning viewers were furious as travel expert Simon Calder encouraged people to book summer holidays against the government’s advice.
The travel expert backed the Save Our Summer campaign, which saw over 120 UK travel companies urging the government to allow overseas holidays from May 1.
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Simon encouraged people to book their holidays – despite the government urging the public not to book for the foreseeable due to the coronavirus pandemic.
He told Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford: “As you know, the government ‘we’re on the road to nowhere’ as the Talking Heads sang in 1985. But Save Our Summer, which is a consortium of all sorts of big businesses, including Trailfinders and EasyJet holidays.
“They say ‘we want to be the Boys of Summer’ – Don Henley 1984, and therefore we are demanding restrictions – or at least some of them – are relaxed by the start of May, which is when the main summer holiday charter season starts.”
He added: “The idea is, let us travel for goodness sake. Also, don’t tell people to book holidays because it’s perfectly rational to book holidays.”
Eamonn suggested to go to a travel agent as they will be more equipped to deal with any changes to the holiday.
Simon reiterated his message in response: “I would urge people who are worried about booking a holiday to go ahead, talk to somebody [travel agent] and get it sorted.”
Viewers were furious with the advice, with one person saying: “people still banging on about summer holidays. Get a bloody grip! People are STILL dying and seriously ill and people still banging on about booking a holiday they believe they are entitled to! Also Thought this country was skint?”
Another added: “F*** off Simon Calder stop telling people to book holidays”
A third remarked: “Please get f***** with this holiday s****.”
Last week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the public it was “too early” to book summer holidays.
He said: “I’m afraid it is just too early for people to be certain about what we will be able to do.”
He added: “I understand why people want to make plans now but we’re just going to have to be a little bit more patient.”
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps also told people that they shouldn’t book holidays now and to “do nothing at this stage”.
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