BUSINESS NEWS The Travel Convention will examine a changing Europe. Ian Taylor reports
Abta boss: Extreme heat will present challenge in future
Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer highlighted the challenges of intensifying global warming when he addressed the 2024 Convention in Costa Navarino, saying: “It’s quite possible certain types of holidays will be untenable – we can’t turn a blind eye to it.” He added that this year’s
convention would need to address the issues again. “The planet is hotting up,” he warned. “We saw record temperatures in June and the driest spring ever. “The temperature was 38C
when I was recently in Madrid and
Family holidays could look different in future
The Travel Convention to celebrate 75 years in ‘accessible’ Majorca
The Travel Convention will provide an opportunity to mark Abta’s 75th anniversary, although Mark Tanzer is cautious about revealing any plans at this stage, saying only: “It’s a work in progress.” The Abta boss hailed Majorca
that is where it’s going to be for the next month. Then you look at the temperatures further south – and we say Brits like the heat and will still go when it hits 40 degrees, but it’s not a great holiday experience with children when not all places have air conditioning. “The evidence is that, if anything, this year has been hotter than last.”
as having “the benefit of great connectivity from all parts of the UK” and Calvia as “an important destination for our members”. He added: “We wanted to ensure the convention this year is as accessible as possible for people who may not have come for a while, to ensure everybody has an opportunity to experience it.
Calvia, Majorca
“Everyone will stay in one of
two good-quality hotels next to each other on the seafront and close to the convention venue, so there will be easy access to everything.” All events will take place outside or near the hotels.
Will government support growth?
This time a year ago, Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer told Travel Weekly there were early positive signs about the new government and that he was looking forward to a Travel Convention in October that would reflect on the government’s first months in office, stewardship of the economy and travel as a part of its “quest for growth”. Now, he suggests, the government
has been “surprisingly positive about the outbound sector and aviation – more so than the previous government”. But he also asked: “Do the promises of government have any substance?” He said: “The government seems
to think sustainable aviation fuel can underpin investment in the industry. Aviation minister Mike Kane, who has Manchester airport in his constituency, certainly understands the importance of aviation and believes his constituents have a
travelweekly.co.uk
right to travel and take holidays. “Tourism minister Chris Bryant
has probably the most sympathetic view of outbound travel [we’ve seen]. A lot of tourism ministers take a UK inbound and domestic tourism approach, seeing outbound travel as irrelevant at best or, at worst, as competing with domestic tourism. “Bryant seems to understand
that a lot of UK infrastructure depends on the outbound sector. If you didn’t have people flying out of Britain, it would be difficult for airports and airlines to be viable enough to bring people in.” Tanzer added: “Some of the early
steps the government has taken – such as an EU deal on e-gates and a youth experience scheme – are things we’ve been calling for.” He also insisted: “There is
a long way to go, but we have a good dialogue with government. The bigger issue – and we saw this around the government’s
Mark Tanzer
welfare changes – is how does it produce the growth to produce the tax to pay for everything? Those questions are still to be answered.” To address such questions, the
convention, which will take place this October in Calvia, Majorca, will hear from political scientist Anand Menon, professor of European politics and foreign affairs at King’s College, London, and director of UK in a Changing Europe, an academic think-tank. Tanzer said:
“We may not be in the EU, but we’re still European, and Europe is changing. Professor Menon will offer a view on the opportunities and obstacles to building future relationships in Europe.” He argued: “The EU itself needs
to change and is changing. The cosy club that was the EU is under review.” Tanzer added: “We’ll have good
representation from the Abta board at the convention – with Jet2 chief executive Steve Heapy, easyJet Holidays chief executive Garry Wilson and Tui UK and Ireland managing director Neil Swanson looking at what has changed in the industry over their careers, what has surprised them and what clues this may give about the future.” The Travel Convention
2025 will take place in Majorca
from October 6-8. i For full details about The Travel Convention, and to register, visit:
abta.com/events/the-travel-convention
17 JULY 2025 55
PICTURES: Shutterstock/Darren Baker, lunamarina
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