NEWS ITT Conference 2020: Juliet Dennis, Ian Taylor and Ben Ireland log in to virtual event


TSSA boss calls for a dedicated tourism minister


T


he general secretary of the TSSA trade union has reiterated calls for a dedicated


tourism minister as he pleaded for immediate government intervention to preserve the travel industry’s future. Manuel Cortes repeated the union’s


call for a package of bespoke measures to get the industry back on its feet to survive the coronavirus crisis. He demanded specific support for


the high street to help travel agents with business rents and rates, and urged the government to be prepared to take ownership of failing airlines. Cortes predicted a “huge appetite


We need someone


to champion our industry. A dedicated minister is something we would back


for people to return to the high street to buy a holiday” but warned agencies may not survive the winter with no support. He said: “Whenever this virus


is conquered, we will all need a well-deserved holiday [but] sadly, if the government doesn’t take measures to preserve our industry,


‘CRUISE HAS BRIGHT FUTURE’


Cruise can become “the safest holiday option” and “come back strongly” despite the challenges of Covid, according to MSC Cruises’ chief executive. Gianni Onorato insisted “there


is a bright future for cruise”, adding that MSC will have 19 ships operating by April. He argued the efforts to


make cruising safe to restart had presented the sector with an opportunity. “The negative focus on the cruise industry because of a few outbreaks on ships increased


the scrutiny of the media and the authorities on the industry,” said Onorato. “There was an opportunity cruise could become the safest holiday option because we could arrange all aspects of the journey. “Since March, we have


worked to try to understand how to restart cruises. We have all done it – all the cruise lines – to make cruising safe.” While MSC


Gianni Onorato


Cruises has not yet been allowed to open to UK guests, Onorato stressed the importance of common rules for the cruise sector.


we will not have an industry. “In the short term, the industry


cannot compete. What we need is the government to step in and hold the industry’s hand so we can emerge stronger than before. “It has done so in the past for the


banking sector, why can’t it do the same for the travel trade?” He blamed the lack of a dedicated


tourism minister for some of the problems the industry has had in getting its voice heard in government,


Manuel Cortes, speaking at a previous conference


noting the trade “falls between” the government’s transport and business departments. Cortes said: “We need someone


to champion our industry. Everyone passes the buck. A dedicated minister is something we would back.” He described the government’s


handling of quarantine announcements as “clumsy” and “a shambles”, adding there was a need for a “clear system” to create consumer confidence.


Speakman says provision of RCNs was ‘a terrible strategic mistake’


Refund credit notes were a “mistake” and a missed opportunity to change the way airlines refund the trade, according to the founder of Travel Counsellors. David Speakman said “the


industry has made the wrong decision” on RCNs, saying their widespread use is “one of the reasons people don’t want to book” future travel at present. Regulation experts have praised


RCNs for helping travel businesses survive the unprecedented amount of cancellations caused by Covid. Speakman said: “The industry


has to correct its ways. It should have originally tackled the


12 8 OCTOBER 2020


government and said ‘make sure the airlines pass on the money down the pipeline’. They never did that. “If we had been on the right side


of the argument, we would have a ready-made excuse to customers [that airlines are at fault for not refunding]. “Refund credit notes took the


pressure off airlines and put it on Atol-holders and travel agents. It was a terrible strategic mistake.” Speakman compared the tactic


to a playground fight, saying intermediaries such as agents and operators had “whacked your customers, instead of fighting the bully” [the airlines].


travelweekly.co.uk


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