An Oakham travel agent has launched a new service to help provide reassurance concerning healthcare when travelling.

Your Co-op Travel*, part of The Midcounties Co-operative, has teamed up with Your Co-op Pharmacy to launch the dedicated "Travel Healthcare" service to give holidaymakers added protection for their health when they travel.

The "Travel Healthcare" website features video content from television's Dr Hilary Jones on a variety of travel healthcare topics, and the service offers Your Co-op Travel customers access to a UK NHS registered online doctor, should they fall ill during their holiday.

The initiative has been launched, following the re-opening of all 78 branches on 12 April, including Oakham, which is situated inside Your Co-op Food on Burley Road.

Natalie Turner, Head of Branches for Your Co-op Travel, said: "We're delighted to have re-opened all of our branches, including three in Lincolnshire and Rutland, and our expert travel agents have had a fantastic first week welcoming customers back in to book their long-awaited getaway.

"Following the publication of the government's Global Travel Taskforce report on 9 April and the re-opening of our branches last week, we have seen a lift in optimism among our customers that they will get their summer holiday abroad this year.

"Bookings last week were up 250 per cent versus the previous week and holidays for late summer 2021 accounted for 43 per cent of the bookings, up from just 21 per cent the week before."

Natalie continued: "Couples are leading the charge when it comes to bookings for this summer and they are opting for luxury escapes, after months spent in lockdown at home.

"We're also seeing a growing trend for "seacations" around the UK, with regular cruisers and new-to-cruise customers, alike, taking advantage of the raft of cruise lines bringing ships to the UK for the summer.

"The ships themselves are proving to be a major draw as customers get to experience the luxury accommodation, dining and entertainment onboard these spectacular ships that would usually be located in far-flung destinations, involving a flight to reach them.

"Summer 2022 remains strong, particularly among families, representing 44 per cent of the bookings made last week. The most popular destinations are Tenerife, Majorca, Dalaman and Antalya in Turkey and Lanzarote.

"We're also offering £75*** off new holiday bookings for customers who book an appointment, via our website, to visit a travel expert in one of our branches.

"We know that value is still important to our customers but, post-pandemic, safety, health, flexibility, and the reassurance of booking with a trusted travel agent and a financially secure business, such as Your Co-op, is more crucial than ever. That's why we're offering flexible payment options, free child places as well as free changes and cancellations, low deposits and cash refunds within 10 days, as part of the Co-op Holidays Promise***.

"In addition, our refreshed cooptravel.co.uk website features a new Covid Travel Service section that includes information on Covid testing, the latest updates from the FCDO, a guide to what to expect when you travel, an extensive frequently asked questions page and the all-important travel checklist."

Your Co-op Travel's "Travel Healthcare" service provides customers booking a holiday with Your Co-op Travel online, via the call centre, or in-store, access to a UK NHS registered online doctor during their holiday for £9.99 for Midcounties Co-operative society members and £14.99 for non-members.

In addition, they will receive a 10 per cent discount on a range of Your Co-op Pharmacy products available online, including sunscreen, travel kits, masks and sanitiser, flight accessories, and travel sickness, malaria, and jet lag medication. They will receive discounted travel vaccinations too.

Natalie added: "Because Your Co-op Travel is part of the wider Midcounties Co-operative society, we are not just a travel business, and are able to utilise the resource and expertise of the other businesses in our society, to benefit our customers and members.

"The new Travel Healthcare service offers holidaymakers valuable peace of mind that they can call on a UK NHS registered doctor for advice, should they or a family member become ill or have health concerns during their holiday."

For more information on Your Co-op Travel, go to www.cooptravel.co.uk or call 01922 908 389.