Children across the UK are being invited to imagine their perfect holiday from the past, present and future as part of an innovative Schools Art Challenge celebrating ABTA’s 60th anniversary.

The project – which underlines ABTA’s long-standing involvement as the guardian of travel – has been designed to fit with the National Curriculum with a specially created teachers’ pack covering art, history, English, maths, geography and personal and social development.

Primary school children (aged 7-11) will be asked to find out more about the heritage and history of the holiday industry and visualise travel through the ages by creating three postcards – past, present and future.

Archive material from Thomas Cook and other ABTA Members throughout Britain is being made available to schools as an aid for teachers. Schools are also being encouraged to engage with their local travel agents with educational visits, and use holiday brochures as a way of immersing pupils in the industry.

Casia Zajac, ABTA Head of Communications, said, “Travel and Tourism is a fascinating and educational subject that enthuses children. It’s an exciting  project for ABTA Members too as it gives them the opportunity to reach a new and younger audience as well as their families and teachers.”

The Schools Art Challenge is just one of a number of initiatives planned during ABTA’s ‘60 Years On Top Of The World’ anniversary celebrations.

Postcards will be judged by members of ABTA’s Board and Council of Regions based on originality, creativity, insight and understanding of the travel industry.

National and regional holiday prizes are being offered as competition prizes to schools and individual winners. ABTA Members and Travel Industry Partners, including First Choice, Eurostar, Acorn Travel Group and Malta Tourism Authority have so far responded by donating fantastic national prizes.

More regional prizes are still needed and anyone wishing to donate to a minimum value of £250, should contact Clare Banham email: cbanham@abta.co.uk (0203 117 0512) 

Sponsors will get their profile raised in the teachers’ pack, ABTA micro site and regional PR.