EDITOR’S COMMENTS
NEWS Hot Stories
04 – Tunisia massacre aftermath; Egypt visa changes confuse agents; forex sales of euro surge; airlines face CAA compensation threat; Travelife in Travel Foundation tie-up
News Digest
08 – Germanwings crash; Virgin issues IAG warning; Princess Cruises seeks feedback; Heathrow targets regional expansion; AmaWaterways joins Tipto; STA eyes business flyers
Special Report
10 – Vertical Group plans to better integrate its diverse portfolio
Conference Report 12 – Global Travel Group 2015
NEWS YOU CAN USE
Product News 15 – SATurday Kitchen incentive
Aviation News 17 – Newcastle, Edinburgh routes
Hotel News 18 – Grace to open four properties
Cruise News 20 – Clia River Cruise Weekend
Operator News 24 – Completely Croatia; Carrier
ALL ABOUT YOU
Letters 28 – Tunisia; SeaWorld; Egypt; Jet2
Comment 30 – Chris Lee: Sales spring forward
All For You 32 – Win Eurostar break in France
Readers’ Lives 36 – Carolyn Park, C The World
Mystery Shopper 48 – From Leighton Buzzard to Ibiza
DESTINATIONS Cruise
51 – Three styles of Med sailings 57 – We sample P&O’s Britannia 61 – River cruises on the Danube 73 – Safari-themed sailings in Africa
France & Italy
79 – France: best options by season 83 – Italy: how to sell lakes heaven JOBS AND CLASSIFIED
89 – Vacancies and business services TRAVELWEEKLY BUSINESS
News
94 – Ryanair U-turn on US plans 96 – WTTC chief says ‘UK is not a good example of managing tourism’
LUCY Editor-in-chief HUXLEY
It’s time to lobby the election candidates
T
he stark warning issued to the UK government by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) this week was
as predictable as it was depressing. Once again, the WTTC highlighted the growing value of the tourism industry to the UK economy, predicting the sector’s contribution to GDP this year would rise by four percentage points to almost 11%, and account for 13% of all employment. But it also warned that Britain could lose its position as the world’s fifth-largest travel and tourism economy without government action on inbound visas, Air Passenger Duty and airport capacity. And a severe skills shortage was predicted by 2024 without policies in place to recruit and manage talent. The warnings are nothing new, of course – the industry has been lobbying on these and similar points for many years. But that doesn’t mean they should become white noise in the background, while we all get on with our day jobs. With the general election on the horizon, we have a rare opportunity to get the ear of those vying to be our appointed representatives. It is an opportunity that shouldn’t be passed up. It is on occasions such as this that Abta really demonstrates
its value and I would urge you all to visit the association’s ‘general election hub’ at
abta.com to arm yourself with the facts to target candidates in your area, and to use the #ValueTourism tag on social media. As a recent Travel Weekly Business Breakfast panel discussion on the election emphasised, we have the chance to challenge MPs and hopeful candidates alike to recognise travel’s contribution to the economy. With just six weeks to go, it is time to up the ante.
lucy.huxley@
travelweekly.co.uk WHAT LUCY DID THISWEEK 1
2 3
Enjoyed an amazing £29 lunch deal at a Michelin- starred restaurant with Travelzoo’s European MD.
Helped select an agent godmother for Royal’s Anthem of the Seas – it was a tough decision!
Attended the Tonbridge Schools Choir Competition to watch my son’s choir sing Amazing Grace and Viva la Vida. Unfortunately, they didn’t win.
26 March 2015 —
travelweekly.co.uk • 3
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