Europe overtakes UK as preferred holiday destination for Britons
Brexit has not deterred Britons from booking trips to Europe next year, despite the prospect of the UK crashing out of the European Union with no deal on future travel arrangements between the two destinations, ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer revealed at this year’s Travel Convention.
Speaking on the opening day in Seville, Tanzer said that ‘while politicians have argued and dithered, customers have continued to travel and to book into the future, even with the fall in the value of the pound’.
"Indeed, ABTA’s own research tells us that Europe tops the list of destinations that people say they want to visit next year, overtaking the UK as people’s destination of choice," he added.
Over the past year, Tanzer has been working his way around Brussels and the UK’s main destination countries to impress upon them the importance of UK tourism to their economies. "And you know what? Everyone agrees," he said. "Tourism is really a win-win industry: both sides gain economically and culturally."
Last month, ABTA issued information for members on how to prepare for a no-deal Brexit, and today Tanzer said: "Preparedness is all, especially when the outlook is uncertain," but he emphasised that ABTA was not predicting a no-deal scenario, rather ‘we wanted members to be able to think through possible effects on their businesses and, most importantly, to minimise impacts on their customers, and maintain confidence."
Trust is the theme of this year’s conference. "Travel, even in the volumes that we’re talking about – over a billion international arrivals a year – remains a deeply personal experience," added Tanzer.
"Personal because each customer fills his or her trip with individual dreams and hopes, and because we as the providers of travel have multiple personal touch points with the customers, from the moment they book, to the moment they return home.
"Each touch point is an opportunity to win, or to lose, the customer’s trust."
Tanzer said the industry saw ‘good’ regulation as a means to maintain consumer trust and create confidence to book and travel, but he added: "For members to be able to build successful businesses in the future, regulation has to be applied equally and enforced adequately.
"We are now only beginning to see governments and municipalities move to register and regulate the sharing accommodation and transport platforms. These platforms were welcomed with open arms by previous administrations but now the detrimental effects on destinations – and the potential health and safety risks – are becoming apparent.
"Health and safety remain a permanent responsibility for our industry, and we should be proud of our record, without ever being complacent."
Tanzer also used his speech to urge the government not to increase UK air passenger duty, which is already the highest in Europe. "The Chancellor must resist the temptation to increase this already heavy burden when he makes his Budget speech later this month," he added.
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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