ABTA and the Federation of Tour Operators could yet form a joint organisation despite the end of merger talks, says ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer.
The FTO ended talks last week after two years of on-off negotiations. FTO director-general Andy Cooper said: “The benefits of keeping a separate organisation exceed the benefits of a merger.”
But Tanzer said: “FTO members want to maintain their independence for now, but the logic for a larger group still makes sense.”
He denied the FTO decision was a blow to ABTA’s mission to become the single association representing the industry.
“We work closely on the lobby front and have a lot of shared interests. I’m sure we can deliver a joint position to government,” said Tanzer. “We will carry on in what we do.”
Changes in ABTA’s structure and operations over the past 18 months, supported by the leading tour operators who comprise the FTO and culminating in the adoption of a slimmed-down board this summer, had appeared to make a merger more likely.
But Cooper said there are more differences between the FTO and ABTA than there are similarities.