Parliament may be in recess, but politics is still all over the news as the Conservative Party Leadership candidates put forward their arguments as to why they should be the next Prime Minister. The current travel landscape shows just how important it is that ABTA continues to impress on all politicians the value of the UK’s international travel industry to the UK economy, which is why I wrote to both leadership candidates at the end of last week. 

The political changes present an opportunity to reiterate what we need from this Government to ensure a prosperous and sustainable industry, and how we need to work together to achieve this. 

As well as demonstrating the value of the travel industry to the UK economy, I also made the point that it is essential a constructive and ongoing dialogue is maintained between industry leaders, Ministers and officials. I reiterated our call for clear ministerial responsibility to bring together the various strands of policy that affect international travel, which fall across a number of Government departments. 

Other topics I raised include matters arising from the UK’s departure from the European Union, and the industry’s commitment to net-zero in line with DfT’s Jet Zero Strategy and the support needed to achieve this. You can read more about the contents of the letter here.

Our engagement with the candidates for Prime Minster builds on our ongoing work with Government, including recent meetings with Minsters and our work with officials and MPs from across all parties. For example, we worked closely with the Department for Transport on its Aviation Passenger Charter, meeting with officials on a weekly basis and working to make sure the Charter reflected the existing rights and responsibilities of both airlines and passengers rather than seeking to introduce any new requirements.

We’re using this time when MPs are on their summer break to gear up for a busy autumn and winter, when a new Prime Minister and Cabinet will be in place, party conference season will be underway and Parliament will once again be in full swing. With the main summer holiday period well advanced, we’re also working even more closely with overseas governments, the FCDO and other travel authorities so we can advise our Members on what’s happening on the ground in destinations across the world.

Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive