Trade bodies belatedly come together to fight industry corner

Trade bodies from across the industry are to coordinate their lobbying efforts in a bid to stem the number of job losses and company closures.

ABTA, Advantage Travel Partnership, Association of Independent Tour Operators, the Association of Touring and Adventure Specialists, the Business Travel Association, the Scottish Passenger Agents Association and UKinbound have all joined forces to form the Save Future Travel Coalition.

The bodies met by video link yesterday to map out ways they can collectively put pressure on the government to help haul the industry off its knees.

Observers questioned why, when the industry been suffering for months, it has taken so long to band together in such a way. 

Until now, trade associations have been largely independent of each other which has created often fragmented messaging.

During the video call, the trade associations discussed shared objectives including regionalising quarantine restrictions, introducing testing and ongoing salary and grant support schemes

Regular meetings will now be held ahead of the budget this autumn.

ABTA Director of Public Affairs Luke Petherbridge said: "The entire travel industry is going through a period of uncertainty and challenge like it has never seen before. It is our job as travel associations to make the case for our industry.

"We must come together to highlight the vital strategic importance of travel for the wider UK economy, as businesses that underpin the country’s aviation connectivity, and support inward investment and export earnings.

"Alongside championing the importance of the sector, we must also offer Ministers practical and workable solutions to problems facing the leisure and business travel sectors.

"That is why, with MPs returning to Parliament this week and the Budget nearing closer, now is an opportune moment to hammer home the plight of the industry, and the actions needed to secure jobs and businesses.

"Coordinating our efforts through the Save Future Travel Coalition enables us to speak with one voice on areas of common interest and will ensure our industry’s voice is heard more clearly in the critical weeks ahead."

The Save Future Travel Coalition will press the government on several key issues including the need to adopt a regionalised quarantine policy and for better co-ordination between the four nations of the UK.

It will also step up calls for testing to replace quarantine and request an APD holiday.

Further financial support will also be sought until the end of March 2021 through grants and the extension of the furlough scheme for businesses that have yet to see a significant recovery in revenues.

BTA Chief Executive Clive Wratten said: "At a time when our sector faces a unique crisis, it is imperative organisations from across our industry come together to combine all of our interests and demonstrate to the Government the value travel delivers for the UK."

Joanne Dooey, President of the SPAA added: "This new collaboration gives us the opportunity to hammer home to governments that the entire travel sector is at massive risk and that they need to recognise the unquantifiable damage that will be done to the wider UK/Scottish economy. Governments need to understand that this extends far beyond individuals missing out on a holiday, but also encompasses a global corporate travel sector."

ABTA said the coalition will aim to build on the Save Future Travel campaign it launched in April.

The association invited other interested travel trade bodies and associations to get involved.