Speaking at the European Tourism Association’s (Etoa) Brexit Seminar on Thursday (31 October) when, until last Monday (28 October), the UK had been due to leave the EU, Abta’s head of public affairs Luke Petherbridge said the sector should take comfort in the fact much would remain the same next year irrespective of how, when – and if – the UK leaves the EU.
“Consumer confidence should remain, even if there is a no-deal Brexit,” he said. “We know throughout 2020, everything is going to stay as it is. That’s great news and something we need to shout from the rooftops.”
An agreement allowing UK-EU flights to continue until 24 October 2020 could be extended if the prospect of a no-deal Brexit remained come the end of next year, said Petherbridge.
“That contingency could be replicated,” he said. “It looks like there would be a buffer period, which is hugely important for consumer confidence.”
Petherbridge stressed it was unlikely the union would require Brits to obtain visas to visit EU countries, unless the UK government imposed its own visa requirements on EU citizens.
He added Abta was still raising a number of issues with the UK government such as coach travel through the EU to a non-EU destination, transit visas and rules about “posted workers” such as holiday reps and tour guides, which Petherbridge said remained the “biggest risk” to the travel industry.
In an update to members, also issued on Thursday, Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer said with Brexit again on hold, and with politicians’ attentions turning instead to a snap general election on 12 December, Abta’s focus would revert to highlighting the travel sector’s contribution to UK GDP and employment, and maintaining consumer confidence.
He added growth over the past year in the number of people taking holidays and the average number of holidays taken per person, and the popularity of package holidays, there were "positive signs" pointing towards a brighter future, despite the “inevitable upheaval” of the coming weeks.
John Sullivan, head of commercial, Advantage Travel Partnership told TTG members were becoming accustomed to operating in a “state of suspension”. “There comes a point when people just get on with things,” he said. “It’s not helpful, and it’s certainly a distraction, but it has to be business as usual.”
Meanwhile, a snap TTG poll of more than 300 readers has found the travel sector would vote narrowly in favour of a new Conservative government (37%), closely followed by the pro-remain Liberal Democrats (31%). Labour polled 10% along with the Green Party and the Brexit Party 7%.
