Agents told: Vote with your head, not your heart
ABTA chairman Noel Josephides told travel colleagues to think about the consequences of their vote when they go to the ballot boxes tomorrow.
Speaking at ABTA’s annual Travel Matters conference in central London, the association’s head of public affairs Stephen D’Alfonso said the emotional aspect was ‘a big dimension in the debate’.
But Josephides advised: "Tomorrow, however you choose to vote, vote with your brain and leave emotion out of it."
Josephides said the UK had probably benefited more than any other European country from its membership of the EU, but ABTA has not advised members on which way to vote.
However, it has prepared a report with Deloitte on the impact of Brexit on UK travel businesses and the UK travel consumer, outlining the possible risks to the industry.
IAG chief executive Willie Walsh, who delivered the keynote speech at the Travel Matters conference, said although his company backed the Remain campaign, it had refrained from trying to influence the decision of its staff.
"I believe Britain will be better staying in Europe, but IAG as a company is not going to tell people how to vote," said Walsh. "We believe this is an individual decision for each individual member of the electorate."
He said he believed British consumers had benefited from being members of the EU, but he claimed Brexit would not have a ‘long-term material impact’ on IAG’s business.
Admitting that ‘there will no doubt be some short-term turbulence’, he said he was confident the Spanish-registered airline group would weather the storm.
Meanwhile, vocal ‘Remain’ supporter, Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary, was out doing some last minute campaigning.
He warned earlier this week that Ryanair would relocate aircraft from the UK to other European countries should Britain vote to leave.
To find out what happens on Friday if we vote to leave the EU, click here.
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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