The industry’s concerns were shared at a session of the UK Trade and Business Commission on Thursday (18 November), at which industry leaders renewed their plea to the UK government to agree a new Youth Mobility Visa arrangement with Britain’s European neighbours now the provisions enshrined in the EU Posted Workers Directive no longer apply to young Brits looking to work overseas.
Other worries, said Best for Britain, include higher holiday prices and an increase in costly red tape.
Charles Owen, managing director of European Pubs Limited and director of Seasonal Businesses in Travel (Sbit), a campaign group representing around 200 outbound travel and tourism firms, said that his business had previously hired 95% of its employees from the UK for summer and winter seasons.
This, though, has dropped "substantially" since Brexit, said Owen, owing to the additional risk, cost and administration required to give young people from the UK the same opportunities to work overseas they were previously afforded under the directive.
The commission, in a submission from Best for Britain, heard this would result in a loss of competitiveness and market share, and contribute to a "skills drain" across an industry that can ill-afford to lose more talent following the Covid downturn.
Additionally, it was told the lack of an agreement with the EU would result in a "huge loss of opportunities, training and experience for young UK citizens", many of whom it is widely accepted typically go on to have lengthy careers in the travel and tourism sector, and become future travel leaders.
Beyond a loss of talent, other consequences, the commission heard, include a loss of capacity and competitiveness owing to reduced economies of scape and negotiating power, which Best for Britain said increase costs and ultimately push up prices for UK holidaymakers.
’Ministers must listen’
"When people talk about labour shortages, they usually think about empty shelves in the UK," said Owen. "But the outbound tourist industry has been severely impacted by these new barriers to hiring UK workers in European resorts, and this could lead to less choice and higher costs for UK holidaymakers.
"Not only will this dent our GDP, but it severely reduces opportunities for young people, for employment, experience and skills training. The government must make changes to the EU-UK trade deal to address this.”
Labour MP Paul Blomfield, who chaired the hearing of the commission, added: "While the government is falling over itself to offer emergency visas to address domestic labour shortages created by their Brexit deal, they are neglecting the interests of British workers who want to take up jobs in other European countries.
"An estimated 25,000 British workers used to work across the EU each year, largely young workers who played an important role. Ministers must listen to industry experts, and offer workable changes to the problems they caused for the tourism sector and those working in it.”
