Margaret Keenan, the first person in the world outside clinical trials to receive a vaccine against COVID-19, is among early coach holiday customers as tours resume on 17 May.
Mrs Keenan (pictured, right) has travelled with her daughter and son-in-law on the first tour to set off from Coventry operator Harry Shaw’s base. It comes as England moves into the third step of the roadmap out of restrictions and tours are permitted to recommence.
Says Harry Shaw Director Robert Shaw (pictured, left): “It is so fitting that Margaret is one of our first passengers back on board as coach holidays restart today. The vaccine is the route out of the pandemic and Margaret was the first to roll up her sleeve to be vaccinated. We are thrilled to be able to take Margaret and her family away for a very well-deserved break.”
Mr Shaw – who is also Chair of the Coach Tourism Association (CTA) – adds: “All of us here at Harry Shaw, just like all of my colleagues across the coach industry, are delighted to be able to get back to what we do best: Helping people to enjoy a great, relaxing holiday so they can create new memories of good times to cherish.”
To coincide with the restart of coach holidays, CTA has launched a new website – welovecoaches.com – that offers customers an easy way of finding a CTA member coach holiday operator near them.