'Engage your candidates' says Abta as Sunak calls general election
James ChappleAbta has welcomed prime minister Rishi Sunak’s decision to call a summer general election, calling on travel industry professionals to engage with their local candidates "to ensure the voice of the travel industry is heard during the campaign".
Sunak addressed the nation on Wednesday (22 May) where, standing outside 10 Downing Street in the pouring rain, he revealed the country would go to the polls on Thursday 4 July.
Abta issued its manifesto in April, which called for the next government to focus on positioning the UK as a sustainable travel leader, promoting fulfilling and rewarding careers in travel and tourism, and creating the conditions for travel businesses to compete successfully.
Abta created a template letter and compiled data on the value of travel and tourism to every UK constituency. Abta members who want support engaging their local candidates should contact the association’s public affairs team. It has also called on the travel industry to come forward with its wants from the next government.
"The announcement of the general election means now is the time to engage with candidates locally to make sure they recognise the value of travel and tourism, and the importance of our industry in terms of both the economic and employment contribution we bring to communities across the country," said Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer.
Tanzer continued: "We know the next parliament will make critical decisions that will shape the future of our industry – including on investments in the development of domestic sustainable aviation fuels industry, setting the rules for aviation and cruise around emissions, reforming education provision, and addressing our future relationship with the European Union.
"While Abta will be directly engaging and contacting all candidates across the country to share our own data and evidence on the importance of travel, the voice of local businesses is especially important to local candidates and I would urge everyone in the industry to speak up and have their voices heard.”
Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of the Advantage Travel Partnership, said: "We look forward to reading the manifestos put forward by all political parties and hope they recognise the strong contribution the UK outbound travel sector delivers to the UK economy, and the crucial role played by small and medium-sized businesses."
James Chapple
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