10 Sep
2020

Save Future Travel Coalition writes to the Chancellor

Convened by ABTA, the Save Future Travel Coalition has written to HM Treasury and other relevant Departments with a joint Budget submission outlining the group’s calls for tailored support.

The letter, signed by the leaders of ABTA, Advantage Travel Partnership, AITO, ATAS, the BTA, the SPAA, SBiT, the Travel Network Group and UKinbound, highlights the strategic and economic importance of both outbound and inbound travel, and the serious situation that businesses face.

Setting out a plan to save future travel, which includes changes to quarantine policy, the introduction of testing and the granting of an APD holiday, the coalition explains that with the right policy and regulatory support the Government can save jobs and ensure the viability of the UK’s travel industry.

Luke Petherbridge, Director of Public Affairs at ABTA – The Travel Association said: “Through the Save Future Travel Coalition, we are uniting behind common asks and seeking to amplify the voice of travel. Our message is clear, travel is a critical strategic sector for the entire UK economy, which underpins the air routes and other transport links that are vital for the UK’s global trade. Failure to support the travel sector will setback the UK’s economic recovery, and it’s vital the Government acts quickly to support businesses and retain jobs.”

Julia Lo Bue-Said, Chief Executive of the Advantage Travel Partnership said: “Using our collective strength is key as we approach government ahead of the budget. This is a key milestone in the parliamentary calendar and this year more than ever timing and speed is critical if we are going to save future travel, jobs and businesses.”

Joanne Dooey, President, The SPAA said: “The travel industry is in desperate need of an urgent and tailored support package to enable its survival. Working in collaboration with our partner organisations gives us a forceful combined voice which the government must listen to and act upon.”

 

About ABTA

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.