Advantage chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said said 20 months of restrictions had led her “feeling exasperated and like we have nowhere else to turn”.
“That’s why, today I am sharing a rallying cry, calling on the entire outbound travel sector to come together with one voice to create a war chest to fund a serious lobbying group,” she said.
“Over recent weeks and months, there have been criticisms that the industry is too fragmented and inconsistent with what we are asking for from government. In fact, this is incorrect. Our asks, coordinated through the Save Future Travel Coalition have been aligned.
“What isn’t aligned is the lobbying required to engage with government at the right level across all relevant departments. Never before has the industry had to deal with such a crisis at such a magnitude as a global pandemic.
“The issues that we have been facing are much bigger than any one person or any one business. We need to show a united front and be clear on what we want from our government. To ensure we are heard, we need to invest in a dedicated heavyweight lobbying team.”
She said hospitality had received financial support because “they have been successful in lobbying government, because they have a dedicated organisation that does just that”.
She added: “Having now reached the end of my tether, the chancellor has shown us that the sector hasn’t been heard, so my challenge to my colleagues across the industry – who will join me in giving us a voice and doing it in the right way through dedicated investment and to stop the cynicism once and for all?”
She urged those interested in taking part and assisting with funding to contact julia@UKoutboundtravel.com
