'We've moved the dial on youth mobility – it's vital to travel's future talent pipeline'

One of our main proposals has been to extend the UK’s current youth mobility scheme, which applies to countries including Australia, New Zealand and Japan, to EU countries, either on a bilateral basis or through a deal with the EU as whole. It is also worth highlighting EU countries have similar arrangements in place too – for example, Italy signed a youth mobility deal with Canada as recently as 2020.

There were positive signals before last week’s announcement that our messages have been cutting through. For example, the government recognised the potential of youth mobility deals for boosting growth in the Autumn Statement in November, while Mayor of London Sadiq Khan expressly called for a deal with the EU just a few weeks ago.

The commission’s appeal is further encouragement, and it’s important we do not lose heart due to the negative political reaction we have seen from UK politicians over the past few days.

’The dial has shifted significantly’

Abta’s Manifesto for Travel and Tourism lists a youth mobility arrangement as a priority for the next government. It remains our view that this is the case, and that there could be an opportunity to make progress once the election has passed.

However, that will require a detailed and objective cost-benefit analysis of the benefits of youth mobility schemes, which will not be achievable this side of the election, specially with the issue seen as being entwined with Brexit and immigration – two of the most politically controversial topics around.

It is vital to make clear those who conflate youth mobility with those two topics are mistaken. Nobody is seeking to re-run the Brexit referendum. Participation in youth mobility schemes do not offer any longer-term right to remain, so is not akin to freedom of movement or to other types of migration. It has been disappointing to see politicians misleadingly claim otherwise.

But we shouldn’t be overly discouraged or defeatist. The dial has shifted significantly on this issue in recent years in terms of political will and rhetoric. And, while making clear it doesn’t want a pan-EU youth mobility deal, the current government’s response to the commission did indicate an interest in doing country by country deals.

Clearly, there are some difficult hurdles to overcome. But we are moving in a positive direction; there has been a change in trajectory since we started raising this matter with the UK government, and we hope that will continue after the next election, whoever forms the next administration.

Our message to the future government on this issue remains one of pragmatism. We know, for whoever forms the next government, generating growth within the UK economy will be a priority. With little or no fiscal headroom left, there will be limited levers available. This is one such lever.

Quite aside from the broader cultural and social benefits to restoring these links with Europe, from a purely economic standpoint, youth mobility arrangements would support an industry which generates billions for the UK economy and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs. 

Luke Petherbridge is Abta’s director of public affairs.