TravelMole Comment – Make your travel vote count today
Tuesday, 06 May, 2010
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Well, it’s over – the weeks of spin, spin and more spin plus three sterile televised ‘debates’ – havre come to an end and it’s decision day today with the General Election.
For most it’s not a moment too soon as the whole pre-election period creates somewhat of a phoney economy. You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t-type of attitude.
With a society that is now much less ideological than ever before the emphasis has once again been on personality rather than policies.
It would appear that the leader making the fewest gaffs will win the majority of the vote.
It is policy, however, that will determine our futures and our well being.
And in the travel industry there has been a glaring omission.
In any spoken or written electioneering, the words “travel” and “tourism” have been rare despite the importance of the industry to the UK economy as a whole.
The record of all parties in government in treating the matter seriously have been woeful – 11 ministers of tourism in ten years is more or less par for the course.
What can we do about it, those of us that work in the industry and depend upon it for our livelihoods?
How can we get senior cabinet ministers to learn about the nuances of the travel and tourism industries, to understand the true effect of Air Passenger Duty as it is currently implemented, for example?
Well that’s the big question and has been for some decades.
In comparable industries such as agriculture, much more radical steps are undertaken in order to get Whitehall’s attention and achieve policy changes.
Many MPs represent ‘rural’ communities who rely upon agriculture for employment and structure.
Perhaps that’s where travel and tourism breaks down – it’s so big and so amorphous that it lacks clarity – too many cooks and not enough representation, too many vested interests.
ABTA has creditably stepped up to the plate with its manifesto for the travel industry while big companies such as TUI and Thomas Cook have started taking political lobbying far more seriously.
Whichever party wins the general election it needs to start listening to the travel industry and appreciate the economic benefits it brings to the country.
With the polls pointing to a hung parliament and possible electoral reform this may be the chance of a lifetime for the travel trade to effectively exert influence on politicians.
And with so many individuals involved in what is – let’s face it – a great industry to work in and work for, we might stand a chance of at last getting the representation we deserve at the highest level.
by Graham McKenzie
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