The Save Future Travel Coalition, which comprises 15 leading travel associations and trade groups, has written to Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, to urge the swift development of a Tourism Recovery Plan to support the UK’s travel and tourism industry.

The development of such a plan was recommended by the Global Travel Taskforce last November and was referenced again in the Taskforce’s report earlier this month. In their letter, the Save Future Travel Coalition stresses that the plan must be developed without delay, and must recognise the significant value of both outbound and inbound tourism, as part of the UK’s overall tourism mix.
 
Emma Wade, Public Affairs Manager at ABTA, one of the Coalition partners, said: “It is important that this plan is developed without delay, outlining clearly how the international travel industry will be supported as the UK’s recovery progresses. Within it, the Tourism Recovery Plan should demonstrate how, through financial support to the sector, Government can level the playing field with our direct competitors across Europe who have received such support, and also UK industries such as hospitality, leisure and the arts.”

In the letter, the Coalition states that:

• Ministers must recognise the unique constraints placed on the travel sector and provide a targeted package of financial support. 
• The Government must back the industry, by undertaking a communications campaign to instil confidence in consumers around the eventual return of travel. 
• The industry needs to be able to attract and retain talent, and that an extension of the Youth Mobility Scheme to the EU Member States would help to safeguard jobs.
• Government must continue to protect UK consumers through support for Refund Credit Notes and commit to an urgent review of future consumer financial protection measures, recognising the inconsistencies that exist in UK consumer financial protection, especially between airlines and the organised travel sector. 
• The success of the future travel and tourism policy hinges on the Government embedding a cohesive approach, with greater focus given to coordination across Whitehall, at all levels.

“The Tourism Recovery Plan should recognise that every element of the UK’s tourism mix (domestic, inbound, and outbound) brings enormous benefits to the UK economy, UK businesses, and UK residents,” adds Emma Wade, “and we look forward to hearing how Government intends to move forward with its development.” 

The Save Future Travel Coalition is made up of 15 leading travel bodies and campaign organisations which together represent the vast majority of outbound and inbound organised travel to the UK, they are:

• ABTA – The Travel Association
• AITO – the specialist travel association
• Advantage Travel Partnership 
• The African Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA)
• Association of Northern Ireland Travel Agents (ANITA)
• Association of Touring and Adventure Suppliers (ATAS) 
• The Business Travel Association (BTA) 
• Cruise Lines International Association UK & Ireland (CLIA)
• Keep Travel Alive
• The Latin American Travel Association (LATA)
• The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)
• Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association (SPAA)
• Seasonal Businesses in Travel (SBIT)
• The Travel Network Group (TTNG) 
• UKinbound 

Notes to editors
ABTA has been a trusted travel brand for 70 years. Our purpose is to help our Members to grow their businesses successfully and sustainably, and to help their customers travel with confidence. The ABTA brand stands for support, protection and expertise. This means consumers have confidence in ABTA and a strong trust in ABTA Members. These qualities are core to us as they ensure that holidaymakers remain confident in the holiday products that they buy from our Members.

We help our Members and their customers navigate through today's changing travel landscape by raising standards in the industry; offering schemes of financial protection; providing an independent complaints resolution service should something go wrong; giving guidance on issues from sustainability to health and safety and by presenting a united voice to government to ensure the industry and the public get a fair deal.

ABTA has more than 4,300 travel brands in Membership, providing a wide range of leisure and business travel services, with a combined annual UK turnover of £39 billion. For more details about what we do, what being an ABTA Member means and how we help the British public travel with confidence visit www.abta.com.