Self-catered breaks could be allowed by Easter if the infection rate keeps falling and stays low, reports claim.

Boris Johnson could give the green light for holidays as he sets out his ‘road-map’ out of lockdown on February 22.

According to The Times, ministers are considering letting families from the same household go on holidays from the Easter weekend.

But there are concerns allowing people to travel to self-catered accommodation across the country could increase the infection rate, undoing all the hard work to drive down cases in lockdown.

Last week, Mr Johnson warned people to be patient with their holiday plans, saying it was ‘just too early’ to be certain about what they can do.

However, industry leaders are urging the PM to give the hard-hit travel sector a way forward heading into the summer.

Travel trade organisation Abta said many travel agents and tour operators have not been able to operate or generate income since the start of the pandemic last March, due to the Government advising against travel to the majority of destinations.

Abta and Seasonal Businesses in Travel (SBiT) estimate that in a normal year around 500,000 people would be heading off to the slopes over the February half term period.

Half term represents around 15% of Abta ski members’ total bookings for the winter season.

For companies providing ski and snow trips to schools, the same period would usually bring 40% of their annual revenues, but this year that revenue will be lost, Abta said.

The Save Future Travel Coalition – made up of 12 leading travel trade organisations – says it is vital that the Government works with the industry to develop a roadmap to reopen travel.

The coalition warns that the industry cannot afford to wait until everyone in the UK is vaccinated before people start to travel again – otherwise insolvencies and redundancies will be inevitable.

The industry argues that a risk-based approach to travel, including a co-ordinated approach to vaccine certificates and use of passenger testing will be critical in opening up the overseas travel market.

Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer said: ‘In a week’s time the Prime Minister is due to update the nation on a route out of lockdown.

‘That must include a way forward for the travel industry to ensure that people are able to take an overseas holiday this summer.

‘We completely understand the need for the Government to bring in temporary restrictions, like the additional measures around quarantine being brought in today, but we also need a route out of this crisis and some tailored financial support to help businesses get through what will be very difficult months ahead for the sector.

‘Travel is vital for the economy. It has been a powerhouse of economic growth and employment.

‘In normal times travel contributes £80 billion to the UK economy and supports close to one million jobs.

‘It also underpins UK aviation and trading routes, with travel agents and tour operators putting the passengers on the planes.’

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