The Business Travel Association (BTA) has unveiled a five-point plan to "reignite" the business travel sector, which it says has a "critical role to play" in the post-coronavirus economic recovery.
Its proposals call for vital action on issues ranging from travel timeframes, to international co-operation and clarity, traveller safety and competitive pricing to rebuild the sector’s £220 billion annual contribution to UK GDP.
Chief executive Clive Wratten has written to transport secretary Grant Shapps and business secretary Alok Sharma to outline vital areas where the government must act or collaborate with the sector.
These include excluding "essential business travel" from the Foreign Office’s worldwide advisory against all non-essential travel; lobbying against any form of mandatory 14-day quarantine at one or both ends of a journey; and encouraging the insurance sector to ensure they offer adequate cover in the post-coronavirus world.
“The business travel sector has a critical role to play in our economic recovery, with the 6.5 million journeys it arranges in a typical year contributing £220 billion to UK GDP," said Wratten.
"We have a duty to enable British business to travel, trade and stimulate the UK economy, hence why we have developed this plan which we are calling upon the Government to support.
“The outcome of the Government’s review of lockdown this week may provide a glimpse of the steps necessary for economic recovery. Yet, the business community is fully aware that recovery will be a gradual process, and one which needs careful planning and for governments and industries to work closely together.”
The association added it recognised its five-point plan was ambitious, and would require all key stakeholders to play a role. By working steadfastly together, the BTA and many allied industries can help get British businesses on the flight to recovery," the BTA added.
Its five-point plan is as follows: