15 Oct
2018

ABTA hosts Brexit roundtable with Robin Walker MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union

 

Robin Walker MP, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with ABTA CEO, Mark Tanzer

Today, Monday 15 October, ABTA is hosting a Ministerial roundtable on Brexit. It will be attended by Robin Walker MP, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, who has primary responsibility for considering the interests of the UK’s tourism industry in Brexit.

 

ABTA Members are attending, including representatives from tour operators and cruise companies. Members also submitted specific points or questions for discussion during the meeting.

The agenda is as follows:

  • Market access and protecting our transport links with the European Union, across all transport modes;
  • Future border and visa arrangements for travellers;
  • Tax arrangements and cross border operations;
  • Employment rights, both for EU workers within the UK and for staff posted across the EU;
  • No-deal preparations for businesses and consumers.

The Prime Minister will be attending the European Council summit on 17-18 October where further discussions about Brexit will take place.

 

Mark Tanzer, ABTA’s Chief Executive, who will chair the meeting, said:

 

“We have had regular, constructive, dialogue with officials within the Department for Exiting the European Union over the past two-years about the priorities for the travel industry, and it’s encouraging that many of these have been recognised, such as aviation access and visa-free travel. But there are still issues which need to be addressed, including around tax and posting workers abroad.

 

“This is a timely opportunity to discuss these issues in more detail, and gain an understanding from the Government about the next steps of the process. While both the UK Government and the EU have said they wish to agree a deal, this meeting also provides a platform to discuss the Government’s preparations for a no-deal scenario. However, the industry’s message is clear. We need an outcome that ensures continuity and stability, as well as to protect the enhanced consumer freedoms and rights that have been secured over the last 25 years.”

 

Robin Walker, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at DExEU, said;

"It was a pleasure to meet with tour operators today. Tourism is of huge importance to the UK economy, generating £66billion a year, and I was pleased to update attendees on the work we are doing to support the industry.”

 

For further information, contact:

020 3117 0596 or press@abta.co.uk

Emma Brennan, Head of Media and PR, 020 3117 0514 or ebrennan@abta.co.uk

 

Out of Hours:  Contact the Duty Press Officer via pager: 07623 951 339

Web: www.abta.com

Twitter: @ABTAtravel

 

Notes to editors

The roundtable was conducted under Chatham House rule meaning we are unable to provide further details on what was discussed during the meeting.

 

ABTA has been a trusted travel brand for over 65 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 currently has around 1,200 Members, with a combined annual UK turnover of £38 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.