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Election ‘disaster for holiday sales’


Juliet Dennis juliet.dennis@travelweekly.co.uk


The industry is facing some of its worst “headwinds” in more than 30 years as fears rise about the impact of political uncertainty following last week’s general election.


The Conservatives failed to win a majority, which has resulted in a hung parliament.


Classic Collection managing


director Nick Munday said: “No- body is punching the air. Election day was supposed to be the end of the quiet period. Normal service was supposed to resume. But it was a complete disaster.” The combination of a weakened pound, terrorist attacks and Brexit meant the industry faced some of the “worst headwinds I’ve seen in my 37-year career”, he said, with demand down immediately after the election result. As Travel Weekly went to press, prime minister Theresa May had begun talks with the Democratic Unionist Party to seek a deal to enable the Conservatives to govern. Alan Bowen, legal adviser to the Association of Atol Companies,


said: “It’s a worry the deal is not done yet. There are only five weeks until the school holidays and, when there is uncertainty, people don’t like to spend money.” Bowen said a deal with the DUP could bring “some hope” of a soft Brexit. But he claimed a reduction in APD and a third runway at Heathrow would be “written off”. However, White Hart Associates


senior partner Chris Photi said: “We should be excited that the DUP are hell-bent on reducing tourism taxes and particularly APD so [Northern Ireland] can compete with the Republic of Ireland.” Teletext Holidays chairman


Steve Endacott warned: “Because we have a minority government and no clear strategy, the value of our currency will go down.” Abta said it would engage with new MPs to seek support for the industry’s priorities, including for Brexit negotiations and “prompt action” on bogus sickness claims. Abta public affairs director Alan


Wardle said: “It is vital there is no delay in tackling the important issues facing our industry.” UKinbound demanded the new


government review its approach to Brexit negotiations.


Industry flocks to back campaign


Ben Ireland ben.ireland@travelweekly.co.uk


The industry has resoundingly backed Travel Weekly’s campaign to combat the surge in fraudulent holiday sickness claims.


Fight Fake Claims has been supported by hundreds of businesses and individuals, representing more than 52,000 people, since launching last week. Last Friday, police in Majorca


arrested two Britons on suspicion of encouraging holidaymakers to make false compensation claims. The number of holiday sickness claims has shot up by more than 500% over the past two years and Tui – Britain’s largest operator – has seen an increase of 1,400%. Operator Monarch Holidays is among the leading companies to join the cause. Chief executive Andrew Swaffield said the issue could add to frosty relations between Britain and Europe if the rise in claims is not tackled as Brexit negotiations take place. He said: “In the context of Brexit,


The PM is trying to strike a deal with the DUP


we’ve got to put our best-foot forward with European partners. We are a valued outbound market,


but this issue could damage that.” Operators, agencies, bed banks, consortia, hotels and insurance companies were among 71 businesses to have already backed our campaign as we went to press this week. Together with a further 116 individuals, they represent more than 52,600 people in total. Advantage Travel Partnership managing director Julia Lo Bue- Said said: “I fully support the campaign as the issue continues to impact many of our members and tarnishes the entire industry.” Iain Andrew, senior divisional


vice-president of dnata Travel, also backed the cause. He said: “Raising awareness of this major issue, and taking a hard line, is exactly what we should be doing as an industry.” Fight Fake Claims is calling on


the government to close a loophole that allows claims management companies to profit from soliciting false and exaggerated claims and put gastric illness claims made abroad on a par with other personal injury claims. The campaign was launched with the backing of Abta, Tui,


Thomas Cook and Jet2holidays. › Fight Fake Claims, page 14 › Talk Back, page 21


15 June 2017 travelweekly.co.uk 5 3 STORIES HOT


CLAIMS FIGHT


PICTURE: HANNAH MCKAY/REUTERS


PICTURE: SHUTTERSTOCK


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