SENIOR travel bosses are calling for the industry to
put aside its differences and start lobbying Government on issues that matter
with one voice.
The call follows disparaging remarks from former
Number 10 spin doctor Alastair Campbell, who shamed delegates at the Institute
of Travel and Tourism conference in Doha claiming the industry was fragmented
and useless at standing up for its interests.
Referring to the lack of coherent
reaction after Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel warnings, Campbell said:
“Your lobbying wasn’t effective partly because there’s not a single voice.”
Industry chiefs have called for a Cabinet minister
with sole responsibility for tourism. They have also called for the Government
to recognise outbound tourism, not just the domestic market.
Currently tourism is dealt with by myriad departments
including the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department for Culture,
Media and Sport and the Department of Transport.
TUI UK managing director Chris Mottershead said
finding one high-profile speaker to put outbound tourism on the political
agenda would be difficult. “It’s about having an individual with the experience
and expertise to speak for the different parties.”
Other issues up for debate include collecting
passenger details before they fly – which the industry claims it is unable to
do – security measures, sustainable tourism and taxation.
Thomas Cook trade relations director Ian Derbyshire
said: “There is no focus from the Government on outbound tourism and what we do
to generate wealth.”
ABTA head of corporate affairs Keith Betton said:
“There are many cases we put to Government, but there are too many different
levels, such as the DTI and the DCMS. We don’t have a ministry of tourism with
a seat in Cabinet.”
A DTI spokeswoman said
consumer minister Gerry Sutcliffe – appointed a year ago – met with ABTA, the
Federation of Tour Operators and MyTravel recently.