ABTA says visa-free travel must remain after UK leaves single market
ABTA is seeking assurances from the Government that there will still be visa-free travel to Europe post-Brexit after Prime Minister Theresa May announced today that the UK will leave the European single market.
The travel association’s director of public affairs Alan Wardle said the Government must also make it possible for travel businesses to access and place the staff they need ‘to run effective businesses across the EU’.
He said: "The EU is the main market for UK travel companies and in its negotiations the Government must make it possible for travel businesses to continue to operate in the EU.
"People want to continue to easily holiday and conduct business meetings in the EU. Amongst other things this means access to the liberalised aviation market in Europe, ensuring the public can still have visa-free travel and ensuring that travel businesses can access and place the staff they need to run effective businesses across the EU.
"ABTA will continue to work proactively with the Government to raise awareness of the priorities for travel businesses, and UK travellers, as they negotiate a future trading relationship."
PM May said today that it wasn’t possible for the UK to remain in the European single market. However, she said she would push for the ‘greatest possible’ access to the single market following Brexit.
May said her priorities included maintaining tariff-free trade with the EU, a customs agreement with the EU and new trade agreements with non-EU countries.
She said: "This agreement should allow for the freest possible trade in goods and services between Britain and the EU’s member states.
"It should give British companies the maximum possible freedom to trade with and operate within European markets and let European businesses do the same in Britain. But I want to be clear: what I am proposing cannot mean membership of the single market."
The British Hospitality Association has reiterated its call for the changes to be phased in over 10 years. Chief executive Ufi Ibrahim said: "The BHA has already called for a 10-year timescale to provide employers and British society more time to adapt, considering that the industry employs well over 700,000 EU workers.
"In the meantime, it is crucial for the hospitality and tourism industry – the UK’s fourth largest sector – that EU migrants continue to be welcomed into our country.
"The impact of Brexit on labour shortages does not apply only to the technology and science industries but also sectors such as care and hospitality and tourism. Without EU workers our industry will be unable to welcome visitors from home and abroad and keep the UK going."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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