Yesterday I was in the House of Commons, along with over a hundred Abta members and 60 MPs and peers, launching Abta’s 2015 manifesto.
‘A manifesto for jobs and growth in tourism’ sets out our priorities for the political parties, outlining how our industry can grow, generate jobs and make a vital contribution to the UK economy.
Politically and economically, we are coming to a critical juncture. With the road to the general election getting shorter, all political parties are gearing up to take their case to the public.
This week’s government reshuffle is one example of the Prime Minister’s readying the face of his Cabinet for 2015.
As I write this, Westminster’s policy gurus have begun the process of drafting the party manifestos. Their promises are not being thought-up in isolation; they are being consulted on widely, across the country, in conversation with voters and industries alike.
This process will culminate in the party conference season, where many manifesto policies will likely be tested with the parties’ grassroots members.
So, with the battlelines being drawn up, now is the time to ensure that our voice is heard – and we have a strong and compelling story to tell.
Our country’s vibrant mix of outbound, inbound and domestic travel and tourism businesses is a success story to be proud of.
As the UK’s fifth-largest industry, contributing £127 billion to the economy and representing 9% of GDP, the industry’s capacity to create and sustain meaningful employment opportunities is unparalleled – some 3.1 million employment opportunities to be exact.
We should also be proud to remind politicians that jobs in travel and tourism are going to more women and more young people than in other sectors, that our sector has some of the the best levels of engagement in apprenticeships, that it offers excellent flexible working practices, and that we also attract a significant number of entrepreneurs and innovators – all characteristics of the UK’s economy of the future.
If we are to grow our businesses and create more employment, neither we nor the government can be complacent about our success. As an industry we have invested significant time and resource over the last four years building political momentum behind necessary reforms and policies.
Reducing further the devastatingly high Air Passenger Duty; completing what has been a long-running holiday protection reform process; finally tackling the UK’s airport capacity crunch – these will not be easy decisions, though they are crucial to ensuring the long-term success of our industry.
And it is vital that we remind MPs and prospective candidates that our priorities are also wins for their constituents – as employees, as customers and as tax payers.
It is clear that the next government, whoever may be in Number 10, will have a very full in-tray. Our job is to make sure that the travel and tourism files are at the top of the pile.