The ANVR calls on Minister Koolmees of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment to review the implementation of 'Temporary Support Necessary Costs' (TONK scheme) together with the travel sector. Many small, independent travel entrepreneurs indicate that in some municipalities there seems to be arbitrariness in whether or not to grant them, while Koolmees informed the media that “unfamiliarity and shame” can play a role in making too little use of this scheme.
A recent survey among small ANVR travel entrepreneurs and self-employed travel agents shows that this group still falls between two stools and cannot claim enough under the TONK scheme. There appear to be large differences between municipalities when it comes to the criteria for equity and housing costs. For example, it even happens that with the same housing costs, one municipality allocates and the other municipality refuses. Grounds for rejection are also often unclear or no reason is given at all for not granting them.
“Despite the fact that the TONK is precisely intended for small entrepreneurs, municipalities seem to want to keep 'a hand on the purse'. Or, as it appears from the conversations we have had with our entrepreneurs, you have to be very tenacious, have perseverance, keep emailing and calling the municipality to still get TONK. That cannot be the intention, can it? "
As of the start of the corona pandemic, March 2020, these entrepreneurs have sold virtually nothing. But they have been busy canceling or rebooking all trips they had sold since September 2019 for 2020 to later in that year. This is free of charge for the consumer, but not free of charge for the travel operator towards his supplier. Subsequently, these trips had to be canceled or rebooked again; up to 4 to 5 times in the past 15 months that the travel sector has now come to a virtually complete standstill. This means that these entrepreneurs have had to do without or with lower income since September 2019; and the end is not yet in sight. According to de, the sector thinks that being able to make use of a scheme is the least ANVR.
“We already spoke with Minister Koolmees on February 17, in which he clearly had in mind that the travel sector is the sector most affected and that TONK may be able to bring relief for smaller entrepreneurs. This was also discussed with State Secretary Keijzer in April. Unfortunately, the desired result has not yet been achieved for these small entrepreneurs. That is why we have today again called on him in a letter to Minister Koolmees to come up with a solution ”.