CONTINUED FROM BACK COVER
don’t think we’ve ever had a serving UK minister at the summit. The UK doesn’t engage at an international level in our industry. It’s disappointing. Typically, the UK [government] is not represented at all. “Other governments have full cabinet meetings to discuss travel and tourism. In the UK, the Treasury manages tax, the Home Office manages visas, the transport department makes decisions on airport capacity. Successive UK governments have not had a joined-up approach.” Scowsill also criticised the UK’s
“over-reaction” to security concerns at border control and a failure to invest sufficiently in automated passport machines at airports. He described the level of automation at UK airports as “totally inadequate”, adding: “You need far more investment.” Referring to UK plans to introduce passport checks on departure for Eurotunnel and ferry passengers from April 8, Scowsill warned of “chaos, queueing and hassle”. He said: “Passport checks on departure are an over-reaction.” But he added: “Queueing seems to be a requisite for going in or out of the UK.” Scowsill added: “People are talking about more security, but the more automated the process, the better. The US understands the visa issue and has completely turned it around. It makes the UK look backward by comparison.” The WTTC also warned of a major skills shortage in UK travel and tourism by 2024. It suggested the sector could employ “352,000 fewer people and contribute £17 billion less in GDP over the next 10 years” if the government and industry fail to implement policies to recruit and manage young people. Scowsill said: “Growth will not happen
by itself. The UK will lose out if the government and private sector don’t take steps to put in training capability. The UK needs to focus on this – on entry-level jobs in the hotel business, airlines and airports.” The WTTC forecasts the global travel industry will grow faster than the world economy this year. Scowsill said: “The sector has recorded strong economic growth in 19 of the past 20 years, providing much-needed economic stability at a time of global volatility.”
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travelweekly.co.uk — 26 March 2015
travelweeklybusiness
COSMOS FINANCE DIRECTOR FRANCIS TO REPLACE BOGGON ASMONARCH CHIEF
By Ian Taylor
Monarch Travel Group managing director Phil Boggon will leave the business at the end of April and be replaced as head of tour operating by Cosmos Holidays finance director Richard Francis. Francis will also take
Boggon’s place on the Monarch Group executive committee, reporting to chief executive Andrew Swaffield (pictured). Boggon’s departure was announced last week. Travel Weekly understands Boggon informed Monarch of his wish to leave last year ahead of the group restructure and change of owner, but agreed to remain until after the process was completed. Investment firm Greybull Capital
took over from long-term owners the Mantegazza family in October, following a rapid restructure of the group involving substantial job cuts and pay reductions. Swaffield announced in January that the lossmaking group was on target for a “double-digit profit” this year. Boggon had been regarded as a long- term replacement for Hugh Morgan, who
RYANAIR RETRACTS STATEMENTONPLAN TO FLY TO AMERICA
retired as chairman of Monarch Travel Group in November after 12 years at the company. It is understood that Boggon has no immediate plans to work elsewhere. Swaffield said: “I am pleased to welcome Richard to the executive committee. His 20 years of tour operating experience, the majority with Cosmos, will be a huge asset to our executive team. “Phil and Richard have been
working together for some time and I’m confident we will see a seamless transition.”
Francis said: “I’m looking forward
to bringing my experience to this new role and working to achieve our objective of creating a sustainably profitable business.”
Ryanair has performed a U-turn on a previous announcement that its board had approved plans to start transatlantic flights, insisting it had no such plans. The carrier’s chief executive, Michael O’Leary said: “It was a miscommunication.” The story stemmed from a Ryanair
Michael O’Leary
statement at the start of last week saying: “The Ryanair board has approved business plans for growth, including transatlantic. We are talking to manufacturers about long- haul aircraft, but can’t comment further.” The statement produced a flurry of media stories, including in Travel Weekly (March 19). However, Ryanair issued a statement to the Irish stock exchange on Thursday saying: “The board of Ryanair Holdings wishes to clarify that it has not considered or approved any transatlantic project and does not intend to do so.” O’Leary said the carrier had “f***** up”.
“Francis’s 20 years of
tour operating experience
will be a huge asset”
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