Government sources say we are too disjointed; with so many trade bodies representing different travel sectors, the government can become somewhat bemused trying to understand the position of the travel industry as a whole.

While undoubtedly Abta does its best to speak for the whole industry, there is much truth in the complaint that we are at times too fragmented when lobbying against issues that beset us.

Interesting, then, to find a situation where we, as an industry, can make the same accusation against government.

Here’s an example of where one part of government promotes one message whilst another promotes a contrary message.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), says the media, is anxious about banks profiting excessively through punitive interest charges imposed on individuals who are unable to control themselves with a credit card in their possession.

This seems a laudatory approach when the amount of debt in the UK is of epic proportions, with many needing decades to clear their credit card debt should they even attempt to do so.

We’d probably all agree that credit cards are too easily available, regardless of whether or not the holder is likely to behave sensibly given access to easy credit. Instances of debt-related suicides are on the increase.

But now there’s a proposed change which will – in a classic example of the law of unintended consequences – in all likelihood increase massively the level of credit card debt in the UK.

From January 2018, the Treasury seeks to ban companies from charging customers for credit card use. Sounds great – the stopping of a rip-off by businesses all over the UK (this change, if implemented, applies to any credit card transaction - not just to credit card use within the travel industry).

The travel industry has, largely, always charged consumers for credit card use - generally around 2%, covering the costs imposed by the merchant acquirers - because it is a low-margin industry selling high-value items.

But now two things are going to happen.

Firstly, it seems inevitable that – since it will be illegal to offer a discount to consumers to encourage payment by BACS or cash – tour operators and airlines will increase prices to all consumers to cover credit card costs.

This will add to inflationary pressures when a weak sterling is already seeing inflation rise to around 3%. So prices will go up - hardly what the consumer (or the government, surely) wants?

Secondly, a credit card surcharge currently deters some people from using such cards; with the new regulations, credit card usage is anticipated to increase by some 50%, meaning even more people will put themselves deeper into debt. Not what the FCA wants!

So on the one hand there is a wish to curb credit card debt, while on the other hand the government is making it easier still for individuals to fall into debt. Somehow this does not make sense.

Funny old world, ain’t it…?