Speaking at Abta’s Future Talent in the Travel Industry seminar in London yesterday (July 3), Abta director of public affairs Alan Wardle said Abta did not want to scaremonger in the national media – but there were a raft of issues that urgently needed to be resolved.

“No deal would be a disastrous turn of events, but it’s a very real possibility,” said Wardle.

The lack of a deal could see aircraft being grounded and travel businesses unable to post workers across their destinations for any significant period of time, Wardle warned.

He added: “I do believe we will get an agreement, but it will take longer than we wanted.”

A panel moderated by TTG Media managing director Daniel Pearce also heard how tourism employers Eurocamp were becoming frustrated by the lack of a decision.

Elaine Bader, head of overseas resourcing for Eurocamp – which employs 1,500 young people from the UK at its resorts in France, Spain and Italy – said it urgently needed some clarity on employment before it needs to start signing up workers for 2019 this September.

Wardle’s comments echoed those of Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer at its Travel Matters conference last week.