It has been wonderful to have an overseas Travel Convention once again, and the Moroccan National Tourism Organisation has done a fantastic job hosting the event this week! 

The Travel Convention offers an opportunity to come together as an industry – Members, Partners and colleagues from all parts of the travel sector – and take stock of where we are and where the industry is heading.

There are three things that really struck me from this year’s Convention. The first is just how good – and important – it is to be able to come together in person. In an increasingly virtual world of work, personal interactions are invaluable, and that was clear to see this week. 

The second is that although we are still operating in extremely challenging times, people remain committed to travel. The rising cost of living is at the forefront of the industry’s mind, and yet, ABTA’s Holiday Habits 2022 research and industry leaders’ insight revealed that holidays continue to remain a spending priority.   

The third is the critical importance of rising to the sustainability challenge. We heard this throughout the Convention, with leaders emphasising the urgent need for action on carbon emissions. To help businesses of all sizes look at the role they can play in decarbonisation, we have launched, together with Deloitte, a new Climate Action Guidebook.

As I said in my opening address here, the industry still faces stiff challenges, and ABTA will continue to press the Government on the need to get behind international travel to deliver on its own growth ambitions. 

This week has been a brilliant celebration of the travel industry and the people in it, and we look forward to reconvening in Bodrum, Türkiye next year.

Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive