With the general election announced today, ABTA has launched an online Election Toolkit to help Members influence local candidates on key travel industry issues.

Luke Pollard, ABTA’s Head of Public Affairs said: “The run up to the election on 6 May provides an ideal opportunity to educate and influence parliamentary candidates. The general election will bring in a totally new batch of MPs and possibly a new government. It is vitally important that new and current Members of Parliament clearly understand the needs of travel and tourism, the fifth largest sector of the economy. Our industry’s concerns should be at the heart of government policy”

Hosted in the Members area of www.abta.com, the Election Toolkit consists of:

• A step-by-step guide to contacting your local candidates
• A sample invitation letter to your local prospective parliamentary candidates (PPCs)
• A sample press release to invite the press to attend the visit of your candidates
• The ABTA Manifesto

Luke Pollard continues: “Whichever party wins the election will have to decide on ATOL reform, airport expansion, changes to the tax regime affecting aviation and businesses as well as addressing climate change and continuing the recovery.”

“If ABTA Members directly contact their parliamentary candidates now, they can make sure their MP has a full understanding of travel and tourism issues affecting their constituents.  We need to make our political representatives  understand just how important travel and tourism is when bringing matters to the attention of the House of Commons and voting on issues which can profoundly affect our Members’ businesses.”

Lord Graham of Edmonton, who hosted the launch of ABTA’s manifesto, Travel Matters at the House of Lords in March said: “ABTA Members will find parliamentary candidates especially receptive to their views in the lead up to an election. It’s the perfect time to approach them.”

The ABTA Manifesto can be downloaded from www.abta.com