Britain's beleaguered travel industry called for government assistance to soften the blow of the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant.

The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) said the latest travel curbs, rolled out on Tuesday to try to prevent transmission, risked holiday firms going bust, AFP reports.

“As additional travel restrictions come into force today, ABTA says the latest measures could tip some companies over the edge, forcing them to close their doors for good,” the group said in a statement.

The industry body “calls on the government to step up to provide financial support for the industry” following the latest travel restrictions. Under the new curbs, anyone travelling to the UK will have to show evidence of a negative lateral flow or PCR test taken within the 48 hours before boarding a flight.