Travel agents have been hit hard by the pandemic and recent comments from government ministers have only added to the uncertainty. Lisa McDonald, from Kidlington, works for home-based travel consultancy Travel Counsellors, and spent months last year cancelling, re-booking and keeping in touch with customers. “I was being cautious of the holidays I booked for the summer and only using flights with flexibility where I could and only booking hotel rooms that I could cancel at no charges if customers couldn’t travel. She also took a part time job at a local opticians. She said: “It is really to give me some kind of guaranteed earning every month. I did qualify for the SEISS [self-employment] grant but by the time I got the first payment I was already behind on bills and I am just playing catch up all the time!