business Essential news, comment and analysis


Deirdre Wells: ‘People are making decisions


[about travel]. If we get this wrong, it will be really damaging’


Wells brands Brexit travel uncertainty ‘disgraceful’


INDUSTRY FRUSTRATION AT THE ‘VACUUM OF INFORMATION’ IS INTENSIFYING. IAN TAYLOR REPORTS


Industry leaders have hit out at UK and EU officials’ failure to clarify post-Brexit travel issues, calling it “a disgrace”.


Deirdre Wells, chairwoman of


the Tourism Alliance, told an Abta briefing on Brexit and the Future of UK Travel: “It’s disgraceful that a few weeks from March 29 we still don’t have answers to all the questions customers are asking.” She said: “People are making


80 travelweekly.co.uk 7 February 2019


decisions [about travel]. If we get this wrong, it will be really damaging.” Paul Carter, chief executive


of Hotelplan UK, warned: “Our operating model – the seasonal workers’ model – is under threat until a new system is in place.” He complained of a “vacuum


of information” and said: “It shouldn’t be up to us to have to deal with that.”


Carter told the London briefing:


“Things could go down to the wire. I would be in favour of a delay.” Abta head of public affairs Luke


Petherbridge said: “An extension is increasingly likely.” But Wells warned: “If it’s only an


extension without clarification it just means more uncertainty. We need clarity first.” Carter noted: “The date is important from a tour operator perspective. June 30 would be in mid-season. September 30 would be the start of the ski season. October 30 would be better.”


CONTINUED ON PAGE 78


PICTURE: PHIL GAMMON


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90