Abta’s chief executive has urged Travel Convention delegates to seize a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to change the face and perception of the travel industry.
In a speech to delegates at the convention in Malta, Mark Tanzer said the industry was at a crossroads and had the opportunity to unite to guide change on issues including consumer protection and sustainability.
“It is about defining a new deal for the customer,” he said.
“I believe we have a once in a generation opportunity to ‘make it new’, and we must take our destiny in our own hands.”
Tanzer listed a number of areas where the industry had gone backwards in the past year, including a continued lack of runway capacity at Heathrow, a number of high-profile company failures, the ash cloud and the increasing influence of the anti-aviation lobby.
He also noted the problems faced by many destinations, which were seeing development mothballed due to financial pressures, and the likely negative impact of the government’s spending review.
Tanzer insisted there was still scope for optimism, and said it was imperative for the industry to unite to halt an ever-increasing tax burden and resolve the continued confusion over consumer protection.
- More from the Travel Convention at travelweekly.co.uk/tc2010