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ABTA MANIFESTO Abta representatives headed to Westminster last week to present a manifesto highlighting the
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the manifesto launch, Nigel Huddleston, Google’s travel industry head and a prospective Conservative candidate in Mid Worcestershire, said: “When you look at the sector, it is so important – but it is not getting that recognition,” he said. “Everyone forgets the importance of outbound in job creation.”
Huddleston stood at the last election in Luton South and said that, despite the importance of travel to the local economy, a Vauxhall car plant in that constituency received all the attention. “The lobbying in the manufacturing industry has been so strong, and yet the contribution it makes is negligible [compared with travel],” said Huddleston. He added that the data Abta presented
was “pretty convincing” and that it was important a more professional and business-like case was put to government. “No one wants to be seen to be making stupid decisions. That we are here in Parliament today speaks volumes to the change in attitudes towards the industry.” Iain Stewart, Conservative MP for Milton
Keynes South, said: “Abta has been an incredibly influential and informative voice in the transport and travel industry. “All politicians are in the gear-up period
for the next election, so it is absolutely right that Abta is putting its views forward.” Jim Fitzpatrick, Labour MP for Poplar and Limehouse, praised Abta for its “powerful” manifesto.
But he warned that Abta’s demands “won’t happen unless you engage with local and national politicians, and sell the programme because it’s good for UK plc”. “The manifesto lays out what you want to see happening,” he said. “If you are going to persuade us or the government to adopt it, that dialogue has to take place.” Fraser Ellacott, Tui Travel customer
operations director and an Abta board member, said: “It is about promoting travel, whatever government ends up in power.”
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travelweekly.co.uk — 24 July 2014
Mark Tanzer with tourism minister Helen Grant
TRAVEL COULD GAIN KEY ADVOCATE AS GOOGLE TRAVEL CHIEF STANDS TO BE MP
Regardless of the political make-up of the next government, the travel sector is likely to have one new champion on the House of Commons’ green benches.
£276 (£14 in France) UK departure tax
for a family of four flying to Florida
Google head of travel Nigel Huddleston will quit his job later this year as he prepares to fight for the relatively safe Tory seat of Mid Worcestershire. The constituency
has a vibrant domestic tourism
industry and, as it is not far from Birmingham airport, it is also dependent on the outbound sector for jobs. Huddleston said if he gets elected
next year, he would continue to take a keen interest in the fortunes of the travel industry.
He said he wants to see the sector as a whole – inbound, domestic and outbound – working together to punch its weight. “Travel is going to be a pet subject for
me because it has been my job for so long. I want to be an advocate for the travel sector. I do not think it gets fair attention. “There are not
many MPs with solid travel experience. There are not that many who can be true advocates for it. “The most
Employment growth in the sector in 2012, compared with
2%
1.2% in the wider economy
important thing is that Abta and its members have got used to the fact that all their arguments have to have some grounding in economic impact. “The emotional pleas work quite well in some ways, but anything with some proof of a beneficial impact is going to work better.”
On the other side of the political divide,
travel could also have a new supporter within Labour’s ranks, with Luke Pollard, former Abta head of public affairs, contesting the Conservative-held seat of Plymouth Sutton and Devonport.
£22bn
Outbound travel’s direct contribution to the UK economy
£640
Average spend by an overseas visitor to the UK
£1.8bn
Annual spend in UK on duty-free
shopping during outbound travel
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