There is little left to say about yet another horrific act of violence. But as with Manchester, Westminster and similar attacks suffered on the continent, it was the immediate reactions of others (the man who threw chairs at the attackers; the woman who stood in the restaurant doorway to protect diners; the police officers who risked their lives to save others) that spoke louder than the cowardly actions of three murderers.
The public’s defiance of the brutality has also been measured in other ways this week. London specialist operators said few customers had opted to cancel their upcoming breaks to the capital, while VisitBritain pledged to continue promoting the UK in overseas markets around the world.
And the UK’s defiance will be felt again on Thursday as we head to the polls. Our political parties were unanimous in their agreement that the general election – and in turn democracy – must go ahead. And likewise, TTG was committed to our special election debate, which we proudly hosted in the penthouse of New Zealand House on Monday, surrounded by magnificent views of our capital.
Topics included airport expansion and the tourism minister role. But it was Brexit and the political parties’ attitudes to the UK’s departure from the EU that dominated much of the discussion. There is just too much at stake, the panellists agreed, for our newly appointed PM to simply walk away, if she – or he – fails to secure anything other than a good deal.
If our panel is anything to go by, it will indeed be a she leading the negotiations, but whatever the outcome, it is Brexit that remains the real concern – or opportunity – for our sector.
The challenge the industry faces now, is to strengthen our voice ahead of the Brexit talks, to drive our new PM to push for a deal that guarantees a strong and stable future for travel, which works for the many (not the few).
