Senior industry figures have warned the pandemic-era “fight” with the government “is not over”, with travel slipping down the political agenda since the lifting of restrictions.
Julia Lo Bue-Said, Advantage Travel Partnership chief executive, told the Leaders in Travel Summit: “Our industry is not front of mind of this government. We’re not getting the engagement we need. As an industry, we have to recognise the areas we want to improve and how we want [things] to change.”
Of her own role during the pandemic, Lo Bue-Said – who spoke up for the industry in multiple media appearances – said: “A leader can’t hide in a crisis. You have a duty to deliver. You have to step up.”
Suzanne Horner, chief executive of Gray Dawes Travel, agreed: “The fight is not over with the government. But my fear is we’re all too busy. We couldn’t get 500 people on an industry call now.”
However, UKinbound chief executive Joss Croft insisted: “We have a huge number of leaders. In March 2020 it was the members who demanded the association step up.”
Croft argued: “The structures established during the pandemic are still there. I don’t agree the collaboration is lost.” The problem, he suggested, is that “the political environment changes… and we have a whole set of new ministers”.
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