NEWS — HOT STORIES 2
Tourism minister Helen Grant puts ‘huge value on
the whole of the tourism sector, not just inbound’
Grant: Sector is a success but lacks women at top
Ian Taylor
“Travel is a great British success story,” tourism minister Helen Grant told the Institute of Travel and Tourism (ITT) conference in Malta on Tuesday.
Appearing at an outbound industry event for the first time since her appointment last October, Grant insisted: “Outbound travel makes a considerable contribution to the UK economy and has a big contribution to make to a long-term recovery.”
She told the ITT: “I spend
an awful lot of time as tourism minister getting people to visit Britain and to holiday at home, but we put huge value on the whole of the tourism sector, not just domestic and inbound.” Grant said: “Travel represents
a great British success story. Your industry is driven by pioneers [and] even when you build a successful firm, you are at the mercy of events beyond your control.” However Grant, who is also
minister for equalities, noted: “Business remains dominated by
men. Tourism is a big employer of women and young people – 57% of the travel workforce is female. Yet there is still a shortage of women at the top.” She said: “If you are a woman
wanting to climb the corporate or political ladder there are many additional hurdles. Ensuring women are able to reach the top is essential.” The minister
cited easyJet and the Advantage Travel Partnership as examples of travel firms taking women more seriously and said: “I believe your sector is a model for other businesses. Everyone in Britain can be proud of this industry.” As minister for sport, tourism and equalities, Grant’s remit includes responsibility for the Olympic legacy, gambling and licensing, the National Lottery and same-sex marriage. The sector has previously called for a dedicated tourism minister.
CAA chided over lack of trust account for Freedom
Lee Hayhurst
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said it is committed to ensuring there is a level playing field for all Atol-accredited bodies following criticism that Thomas Cook’s Freedom group continues to operate without a trust account. Travel Counsellors chairman David Speakman described it as
“outrageous” that Freedom had not hit the deadline of May 1. However, a bond is believed to have been obtained as a temporary measure. Industry sources estimated the provision could cost as much as £500,000 over the course of a year. Last week an internal memo to Freedom members
stated that Thomas Cook was committed to the consortium’s future, ending speculation of an imminent trade sale. Head of Freedom Kelly Cookes said on Tuesday: “We are making solid progress to put a trust account in place. Testing is being done and we hope to be able to announce a live date very soon.” The email prompted other accredited bodies, all of which met the deadline to have trusts in place, to demand the CAA ensures Freedom falls into line. CAA head of Atol Andy Cohen said he understood their
frustrations, but that there was an interim agreement with Cook. “We are committed to having a level playing field across all
accredited bodies,” he said. “At present we are satisfied that we are achieving that in the short term.”
Speakman said: “It has run out of time. It’s unfair and outrageous.” Julia Lo Bue-Said, managing director of Advantage Travel
Partnership, said: “We want a level playing field and there has to be a timescale in which absolutely everybody has to commit.” Gary Lewis, managing director of Travel Network Group, said: “There has to be a point where the CAA says enough is enough.”
5 June 2014 —
travelweekly.co.uk • 5 3
‘Outraged’: David
Speakman
“I believe travel is a
model for other businesses”
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