ABTA news
UNWTO
YEAR OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
ABTA is supporting the 2017 UN International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, as a member of the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organisation) Steering Committee, which is guiding and supporting the implementation of the International Year. According to the UN, ‘well-designed
and well-managed tourism’ can contribute to sustainable development, job creation, trade and to fostering better understanding among different cultures. As part of the steering committee,
ABTA will help shape the UNWTO Flagship Report ‘Tourism for Development’, which will explore the current and potential contribution of tourism towards development. Additionally, ABTA is encouraging its Members and Partners to get involved in its Better Places programme, a series of initiatives designed to help implement a sustainability approach or improve current performance. “It’s fantastic the UN has put
sustainable tourism right at the heart of the agenda,” said Nikki White, ABTA director of destinations and sustainability. “Tourism can be a force for good and we look forward to working with our Members and the industry throughout this year and beyond. I would encourage all ABTA Members to visit our Better Places pages and drive their sustainability strategy forward.”
Mark Tanzer, ABTA chief executive, set out the key priorities for Brexit at last month’s Business Travel Show at Olympia, London. He outlined how ABTA has worked
with its Members to define the priorities of the UK travel and tourism industry as the Government prepares to negotiate the UK’s exit from the EU. Tanzer spoke of the principles that have guided the thinking around the subject at ABTA: avoiding barriers to travel, enabling business operational stability and continuity, protecting consumer confidence and exploring growth opportunities. He commented: “As the Government embarks on this reshaping of the UK’s international relations, we’ve highlighted the value of UK travel and tourism to the UK economy, and our vision to secure a prosperous future for the industry and the public.
NEWS IN BRIEF
Entering USA ABTA is reminding
Members that UK citizens should be eligible to travel to the US under the Visa Waiver Program by applying online for an ESTA, which costs $14 and is valid for two years. Anyone whose application is rejected will need to apply in person for a visa.
10 ABTA Magazine | April 2017
APD increases The Government
decision to go ahead with increases in APD has met with disappointment from ABTA. “Levying sky- high taxes on aviation sends the worst possible message as we look to build our connections outside of Europe,” said director of public affairs Alan Wardle.
“We have identified our immediate
priorities. The continued access to liberalised transport markets; visa-free travel between the UK and EU countries for leisure and businesses trips, and avoiding the creation of other barriers to travel as well as seizing opportunities for growth.” ABTA is launching a report to set out
these priorities, urging the government to recognise the value of travel and tourism to the UK economy, and to prioritise the maintenance of barrier-free travel between the UK and our largest overseas market. Tanzer pointed out UK travellers make over 6.6 million trips a year to EU countries for the purpose of short-stay business trips, while EU business travellers make over nine million journeys to the UK. For more news from the Business Travel Show, turn to page 22.
ACT now ABTA is supporting
the Counter Terrorism Policing’s campaign, ‘Make Nothing Happen’. ABTA will be using the #ActionCountersTerrorism hashtag with posts over all consumer-facing social media channels and will encourage Members to share campaign information.
Insurance renewal Citybond Suretravel has been reappointed to manage the ABTASure travel insurance scheme for 2017. The scheme, launched over 10 years ago, is exclusively available to all Members and has been devised to give agents a wide range of insurance solutions.
BREXIT
The business of Brexit
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