Abta said the ban on Brits travelling to France was a blow to the winter travel industry.
Mark Tanzer said that the government should bring forward a support package to avoid further travel company failures and job losses.
The winter travel industry is already under extreme pressure following the new Omicron restrictions, and reports that France is to introduce a temporary ban on most travel from the UK will be a hammer blow.
If the government doesn't come up with a support package for the winter sports and school travel markets, we will see company failures and job losses.
The travel and tourism sector has had little chance to make money since early 2020 and is now facing another wave of cancellation.
Abta said that travel businesses have reported a 22% turnover decrease due to travel restrictions and low consumer confidence in international travel.
Any government review of business support to address the impacts of Omicron must include priority travel agents and tour operators.
Clive Wratten, chief executive of the Business Travel Association, said that the French travel ban was devastating for the travel sector on both sides of the Channel.
It is a huge step backwards for safe international travel and puts livelihoods and economies in danger.
The travel sector needs financial support from the UK government. The only industry currently operating under restrictions is ours.
The industry would be guaranteed survival if 80% of the workforce returned to work by the end of Q1 2022.
Julia Simpson, chief executive of the World Travel & Tourism Council, said that the French government's reaction was useless. The Covid variants that are in France will not be stopped by banning travel to France. South African scientists said that the decisions are based on hysteria.
This decision will destroy family reunions and it will have long term implications for the travel and tourism sector that was just beginning to recover.
People who are fully vaccine free should be the focus of the government. It has been proven that banning whole countries doesn't work.
The travel and tourism sector will be a major blow to it's economy if this drastic measure is adopted. Enhanced health and safety measures should be implemented to stop community transmission.
The French ban is worrying for the UK travel trade.
Last December, when countries began shutting their doors to Brits in quick succession, it could have devastating impacts on travel agents and the wider travel community.
It makes it difficult for tour operators and travel agents to manage cancellation, refunds and rebooking passengers because of the restrictions.
She said the move underscored the need for a human travel agent to help reassure and guide travellers, and that they can only hope that the decision is reversed.
