Trigger started his career in travel in 1958 with Erna Low Travel Service. He later moved to Finlandia Travel Agency where he set up a new division called Scantours.

Trigger later purchased the operation outright and developed it into a small but successful independent Scandinavia specialist tour operator, which he eventually sold in 1999.

During his career, he served as chairman of Abta’s Tour Operators’ Council, and six times on its National Council which later became its Board of Directors.

He held various committee roles, including chairing Abta’s convention committee and the Abta-Antor joint consultative committee.

He was elected president of the association in 1994 and served a three-year term, taking over from Wesley Pentland.

John de Vial, Abta director of financial protection and financial services said: “Abta was saddened to hear of the death of ex Abta President Colin Trigger.

"Colin was a larger than life character who did great service to Abta and our members both in his time as chairman of the Tour Operators Council and subsequently as Abta president from 1994-1997.

"Colin deserves our thanks and gratitude for everything he did for the association and our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.”

Trigger also served on Aito’s Board of Directors (Council) for several years before becoming chairman in 2000 - a role he held into 2001.

During his stint, he oversaw the association’s 25th anniversary year and conference in Turin, which was attended by a record number of delegates.

Serving Aito chairman Derek Moore told TTG: “Colin was very much a genial character, despite being a tough businessman as owner/MD of Scantours, a long-standing Scandinavian specialist, [which was] somewhat ahead of its time compared with the much larger number of such specialists in the market nowadays.

“Many within Aito, and Aito itself, remember Colin as a force of nature and also as a bon viveur; he got the most out of life and was always at the heart of any celebration.

“We are all sad to hear of Colin’s recent death, peacefully at home on 4 April after a long illness, and our thoughts are with his wife Rosemarie [Kroon-Trigger] and his family at what is, of course, a very difficult time for them.”

Following a private family funeral in Teignmouth, Devon, on 17 April, there will be a celebration of his life at Teign Heritage Centre, 29 French Street, Teignmouth, TQ14 8ST.

Flowers are discouraged as the request of his wife Rosemarie in favour of donations to Rowcroft Hospice (rowcrofthospice.org.uk), which provided high quality care and support towards the end of his life.