Time for travellers to get a better deal from government
Tuesday, 11 Mar, 2010
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Travelmole guest comment by ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer
Travel and tourism is the fifth largest industry in the UK, contributing £19 billion a year and provides employment for 2.65 million.
It is a profoundly important industry whose success is fundamental to the economy of the UK, even more so in a period when many of our traditional industries have been in decline.
However, for too long successive governments have treated our industry as of secondary importance; relatively ignored, sidelined and too often seen as an easy source of tax revenue.
Our customers have also been given a rough deal. Despite repeated calls and lobbying action by ABTA and other concerned bodies too many of the public travel with limited or no financial cover if their travel company, particularly their airline, fails.
The foundation for the UK’s leading role in travel is based on a modern, efficient transport network. Without this we risk long term, potentially irreparable, damage to the economy the economy as business moves overseas to our competitors on the continent.
The lack of a dedicated tourism minister with responsibility for both out bound and inbound tourism has contributed to a fragmented and inconsistent approach to the industry’s concerns.
These then are the challenges facing us, what are the solutions?
Our manifesto, launched at the House of Lords yesterday, addresses these key industry issues, with clear calls for action from whatever Government that may be in power after the election. We have five key proposals:
- To reform consumer protection so that all holidays, flights and accommodation are protected.
- To reform Air Passenger Duty so that airlines are incentivised to fly full planes with a fair tax contribution based not on passenger numbers but on the fuel efficiency of the aircraft and more closely aligned to the distance travelled.
- To safeguard jobs by cutting down on red tape and other barriers to running successful businesses.
- To increase airport capacity all across the UK, but especially in the South East of England so that we are able to meet current and future needs.
- To create a dedicated Minister of Tourism and give a Whitehall department the lead responsibility for all three tourism sectors, domestic inbound and outbound.
Phil Davies
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