The association said the costs levied by banks and credit card firms was “the real issue” for ministers to look at following the decision by Westminster to outlaw surcharges for payments made through American Express and Paypal.

The move was an extension of the second EU Payment Services Directive (PSD2) – set to come into force in January 2018 – which bans surcharges on Visa and Mastercard payments.

Abta said that although it supported the government’s aims to protect consumers against “excessive” fees while paying by card, it was concerned about how the new rules could “negatively impact the travel industry and their customers” and risked “increasing prices for everyone”.

A spokesperson said: “We will be writing to the government, highlighting the particular concerns of travel agents and providing examples of how these new rules will negatively impact the travel industry and their customers.

“The government has previously committed to monitoring the amount charged by credit card companies for processing cards. They now need to back up their words with action.”