EU negotiators have signaled that enough has been done on the divorce bill, EU nationals question and the Irish border to move onto trade negotiations.

The association’s chief executive Mark Tanzer used the opportunity to remind UK negotiators of the travel industry’s key concerns, including the ability to travel freely in Europe and beyond.

He added arrangements also need to include the ability for companies to post overseas support staff like reps while visa-free travel for both business and leisure travellers and consumer rights are also on the list.

Tanzer said: “Following today’s news that the government will be moving to the next phase of Brexit discussions, issues that are of particular concern to the travelling public, such as aviation access and visa-free travel for holidaymakers and business travellers will need to be addressed urgently.

“It is vital that the importance and scale of the travel industry are recognised in the discussions.

“The UK-outbound travel industry generates over €37 billion for the economies in the EU, and £28 billion for the UK. 

“It also supports hundreds of thousands of jobs and businesses, both here and abroad.

“Many travel companies have already begun to look ahead to 2019, so agreeing transitional arrangements early in the new year will help business to plan and help protect consumer confidence. 

“Abta has been working closely with the EU and the UK government to raise issues on behalf of the industry, and we will continue to do this throughout the next phase of the negotiations.”