A year of discontent
Travel in 2022, certainly in the latter stages of the year, has been beset by frequent strike action, with TTG's coverage of the announcement of the Border Force walkouts that got under way today (23 December) proving one of the most keenly read stories of the year.
Around 1,000 Border Force officials were expected to walk out on Friday (23 December) on the first of six full days’ strike action over 23-25 December and 28-30 December at six UK airports – Birmingham, Cardiff, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow and Manchester.
Already, the general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services union – the union representing striking Border Force officials – has indicated the action could continue well into 2023, with PCS members holding a strike mandate valid until May.
This wasn't the only action, or threat of action, to affect travel this year, though: thousands of you read our coverage of a proposed strike by British Airways check-in staff in July and of action by Portuguese baggage handlers in August.
War in mainland Europe
Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February shocked the world, with the first anniversary of the conflict just a couple of months away. Travel has been united in its condemnation of Vladimir Putin's actions, which besides the untold hurt and damage caused to Ukraine and its people, has destabilised global politics, economics and supply chains.
As skirmishing began in late February, TTG took a look at some of the likely consequences of a prolonged conflict in Ukraine, including a spike in oil prices, closure of Ukrainian and Russian airspace and broader aviation security concerns, not to mention immediate considerations for agents and operators.
One immediate effort to support embattled Ukrainians was a surge in travel industry professionals booking "holidays" to Ukraine, stays in Airbnbs they knew they couldn't take in the hope this cash would reach the country. "It could have been all or any of us," said Beachcomber's Sarah Archer. "One minute you're letting your apartment to tourists, the next you're in a war zone."
Clia conference delegates heading to the association's RiverView conference in March, meanwhile, stuffed their suitcases with essential supplies to donate to Ukrainian refugees, while Kyiv's head of tourism had a simple message for attendees at WTM London this year – "just come to Ukraine after the war".
(Re)open for business
After travel restrictions were reimposed in December 2022 in response to the Omicron variant of Covid-19, with deja vu came despair as travel feared another hugely damaging lockdown. However, the measures were relaxed in the new year, giving travel a much-needed bounce, before Boris Johnson tore down the rest of the UK's travel restrictions in March, opening up international travel fully for the first time for two years.
First, there was talk of pre-departure tests (remember them?) being dropped, followed a day later by confirmation pre-departure tests were indeed to be axed, along with a move to lower the Day 2 Covid testing standard from PCR to lateral flow. The measures went ahead despite a plea from then-health secretary Sajid Javid, who said opening up too quickly risked fresh lockdowns.
Later in January, Johnson then confirmed Day 2 testing would be scrapped for fully vaccinated arrivals, before all remaining Covid travel curbs were ended on Friday 18 March. And to his credit, then-transport secretary Grant Shapps did his bit too, calling for passenger locator forms to be scrapped by Easter.
Pain in Spain
While most major holiday destinations, certainly those in mainland Europe and the Med, quickly reopened to international tourist travellers in the summer, Spain took a little longer to fully soften its Covid travel rules, causing some consternation among the UK travel trade.
Back in April, it appeared the Spanish government had made a key concession, allowing entry to the country for tourism purposes on the basis of a negative PCR or antigen test for Covid-19 and ending the requirement to show a vaccine or recovery certificate.
However, this was swiftly rolled back, despite the deputy director of the Spanish Tourist Office just days earlier saying they were confident of a significant return of British tourists in 2022. The country extended its rules requiring proof of Covid vaccination status for several months before finally dropping its Covid-19 test and vaccination rules, in full, in mid-October.
Speaking to TTG@WTM London in November, director of the Spanish Tourist Office, Miguel Sanz, admitted a recovery from Spain's British market had been slow during the summer owing to the country's travel restrictions, although he added he was confident pent-up demand would "show up in the winter".
Buccament Bay scammer jailed
One of travel's most notorious conmen finally got his comeuppance this year. David Ames masterminded what turned out to be a staggering £226 million property fraud, in which he duped thousands of unwitting investors into sinking millions into dud Caribbean developments, including Buccament Bay.
Harlequin Group boss Ames, 70, was in September sentenced to 12 years behind bars for fraudulently abusing his position as chair, which the Serious Fraud Office said exposed more than 8,000 investors to "huge" losses between 2010 and 2015.
Victims parted with their pensions and life savings, believing their money would be invested in holiday properties in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Barbados and other Caribbean nations. In reality, the scheme had no external funding and never delivered what was promised. Almost no properties were constructed and 99% of those who invested made no return.
Movers and shakers
The year was punctuated by several high-profile personnel changes throughout the travel trade, which latterly saw Celebrity Cruises vice-president and managing director EMEA Jo Rzymowska announce she would be standing down from her role next summer and leaving Royal Caribbean Group after 18 years, prompting a slew of tributes and testimonials to an industry "trailblazer".
Rzymowska was far from the only big name, though, to move on or announce a move this year. In June, Tui Group chief executive Fritz Joussen revealed he would be standing down at the end of September after around 10 years heading up Europe's largest travel firm, and would be succeeded by Sebastian Ebel.
There were major changes at Kuoni and its parent, Der Touristik UK, after Derek Jones confirmed in August he was leaving the business after 13 years, more than 10 of which he spent heading up the brand. Mark Duguid, managing director of Kuoni stablemate Carrier, was named Jones's successor in November, with Natasha Towey stepping into Duguid's shoes at Carrier. Kuoni marketing director Dean Harvey, meanwhile, will leave the brand in December.
Other moves saw Cherie Richards join Hays Travel to head up recruitment to, and management of, Hays' personal travel consultant business development and operational support team; former Azamara boss Richard Twynam appointed managing director UK and Ireland of Scenic Group; and Phil Gardner leave Thomas Cook to join Ambassador Cruise Line as chief commercial officer.
We've also got to touch on the merry-go-round in Westminster, which saw transport secretary Grant Shapps shunted out and Jacob Rees-Mogg named business secretary, making him – briefly – secretary of state for package holidays. Shapps, after an ever more brief stint as home secretary, eventually ended up as business secretary once Rishi Sunak restored order following Liz Truss's disastrous 45-day reign, with Mark Harper named transport secretary.
Darling of the travel industry, former transport committee chair Huw Merriman, was handed the rail brief at the department of transport, with Baroness Charlotte Vere retaining the DfT's aviation portfolio and later taking on maritime too. Iain Stewart has since been named Merriman's successor as transport committee chair.
Spotlight on Qatar
Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup put the destination in the spotlight as the country faced criticism for its human rights record and treatment of LGBT+ people. As the tournament kicked off, TTG asked the question many in travel had discussed privately, but few dared to air publicly: Should the travel industry support Qatar?
The piece provoked debate and discussion throughout travel, not least given its reference to the tragic death of senior travel industry figure and ITT board member Marc Bennett, who was found hanged in his hotel room after being allegedly detained and mistreated following his arrest at the offices of employer Qatar Airways.
It explored the concept of tourism as a force for good, but urged the travel industry to look beyond the glossy PR campaigns of destinations and ask uncomfortable questions. As the football fans return home and some of the stadiums start to be dismantled, many in travel will be wondering whether the World Cup helped or hindered Qatar’s attempts to become a top tourist destination.
Cost of living crisis
As autumn approached, the UK faced increasing financial pressures with “cost of living crisis” becoming the new catchphrase. Rocketing energy bills coupled with rising inflation led to predictions of a tough winter for many – especially for those working in travel, a sector left bruised and battered by the pandemic, and one which – historically – hasn’t paid as well as other similarly skilled professions.
TTG launched a survey to find out how readers were coping, and was left startled by the results. One in five respondents said they believed they may have to use a food bank this winter, while 4% of respondents said they already had. Almost 70% admitted they had cut back on household essentials or groceries to save money in the past three months, and nearly a third said they were considering taking on a second job to make ends meet.
To support readers, TTG subsequently hosted a “bills, budgeting and benefits” seminar with Citizens Advice Manchester and Abta Lifeline, featuring support and advice for those struggling to cope. You can catch up with that seminar in full here.
Love is in the air
We'll leave you on a high note – travel witnessed what is likely to have been its first live marriage proposal in November when former coach firm boss Barry Coatman got down on one knee and proposed to his partner of 14 years, Seaside Travel boss Nicola Park, at the Jet2conference.
After Nicola made light of their long relationship and Barry's reluctance, so far, to tie the knot earlier in the conference, Barry was getting a bit of grief for not putting a ring on it. However, after pledging to the Jet2 trade team he'd do the right thing if Seaside picked up a gong, the agency in County Durham was duly named one of Jet2's top sellers – and the rest is history (even if Barry had to borrow a ring!).
"I’m absolutely over the moon," Park told TTG minutes after Coatman’s proposal. "Fourteen years I’ve been waiting to trap him, and I’ve got him now in the net!" The couple met after Barry popped into Seaside to answer a notice looking for airport transfers and hit it off when Nicola invited him along to Seaside's Christmas night out that year.
