Abta chief says question remains whether government will support growth

The chief executive of Abta has questioned whether the government will stick to its word and support the growth of the travel industry.

 

Mark Tanzer told Travel Weekly a year ago there were early positive signs about the new government and that he was looking forward to a Travel Convention that would reflect on its first months in office, stewardship of the economy and travel as a part of its “quest for growth”.

 

He has now suggested the government has been “surprisingly positive about the outbound sector and aviation – more so than the previous government”, but he also asked: “Do the promises of government have any substance?”

 

He said: “The government seems to think sustainable aviation fuel can underpin investment in the industry. Aviation minister Mike Kane, who has Manchester airport in his constituency, certainly understands the importance of aviation and believes his constituents have a right to travel and take holidays.

 

“Tourism minister Chris Bryant has probably the most sympathetic view of outbound travel [we’ve seen]. A lot of tourism ministers take a UK inbound and domestic tourism approach, seeing outbound travel as irrelevant at best or, at worst, as competing with domestic tourism.

  

“Bryant seems to understand that a lot of UK infrastructure depends on the outbound sector. If you didn’t have people flying out of Britain, it would be difficult for airports and airlines to be viable enough to bring people in.” 

 

Tanzer added: “Some of the early steps the government has taken – such as an EU deal on e-gates and a youth experience scheme – are things we’ve been calling for.” 

 

He also insisted: “There is a long way to go, but we have a good dialogue with government. The bigger issue – and we saw this around the government’s welfare changes – is how does it produce the growth to produce the tax to pay for everything? Those questions are still to be answered.” 

 

To address such questions, the Abta Travel Convention, which will take place this October in Calvia, Majorca, will hear from political scientist Anand Menon, professor of European politics and foreign affairs at King’s College, London, and director of UK in a Changing Europe, an academic think-tank. 

 

Tanzer said: “We may not be in the EU, but we’re still European, and Europe is changing. Professor Menon will offer a view on the opportunities and obstacles to building future relationships in Europe.”

 

He argued: “The EU itself needs to change and is changing. The cosy club that was the EU is under review.” 

 

Tanzer added: “We’ll have good representation from the Abta board at the convention – with Jet2 chief executive Steve Heapy, easyJet Holidays chief executive Garry Wilson and Tui UK and Ireland managing director Neil Swanson looking at what has changed in the industry over their careers, what has surprised them and what clues this may give about the future.” 

 

The Travel Convention 2025 will take place in Majorca from October 6-8.