“Inbound and outbound tourism are equally important," Bryant told Abta’s Travel Matters conference on Wednesday (11 June). "In fact, there are a lot of areas where you cannot get inbound without outbound, and the more the two can work together, the better.”
Bryant acknowledged there were regional airports that would not be viable without outbound tourism, on whose flights inbound tourists also travelled. He pledged to “sort out a whole series of things about regional airports which will benefit outbound” as part of his ambition for the UK to receive 50 million visitors by 2030.
Bryant’s words were welcomed by Abta chair Alistair Rowland. “When have you ever heard a minister say outbound travel is as important as inbound?" he asked delegates. "I think that is a first.”
The pledge on airports was supported by Hays Travel chair Irene Hays, who said Hays "charters aircraft from only nine regional airports because there is inadequate support to develop our airports".
Bryant said previous governments had taken industries such as car production more seriously than tourism, which he stressed he would argue "is bigger".
"You work in one of the greatest industries on earth," he told guests. "You give people an opportunity to chill out, see new things, and have a break from their ordinary lives.”
Bryant said the “Grand Tour” of 150 years ago “is now for everybody”.
He called for a partnership between industry and government to ensure the safety of younger travellers. “Lots of 16 and 17-year-olds are travelling, sometimes they don’t make good life choices.” He said there was a responsibility for both to campaign on the dangers of too much sun and on alcohol abuse.
On sustainability, he said: “We have to think with you about what sustainable tourism looks like, partly little plastic bottles in hotels but also where the local population do not think tourism is sustainable.”
Bryant said he was a big fan of the BBC’s Race Across the World. “It shows you places you never thought of going – at least the contestants never did. I would like more Brits to go to more places they have never heard of.”
He listed some of his pet travel hates, saying Gatwick airport’s trains were difficult to fathom “even if you have a PhD in getting on the right train”.
Bryant also pleaded with the industry to make car hire simpler, avoiding the need to sign numerous documents on arrival at the airport. “It’s so tedious," he said. "Just get me the car."
