SPAA members held a round-table with MSPs (Members of Scottish Parliament) on Tuesday (June 19) to discuss how Brexit could affect the outbound tourism industry in Scotland, which employs more than 26,000 people.

Ken McLeod, SPAA president, said the organisation wanted to ensure that any legal changes would have a “minimal impact” on both the trade and Scottish consumers who travel to the EU after Brexit.

“With under a year to go until the UK leaves the EU, there is still no clear strategy or indication of what may or may not change in terms of how we travel,” added McLeod.

“Abta research shows that outbound tourism sustains more than 26,400 jobs in Scotland, with a further 169,000 supported indirectly. Outbound tourism is worth £1.5 billion every year to the Scottish economy.”

McLeod said he hoped SPAA could work together with MSPs to “ensure travel to and from Scotland can continue to make a substantial contribution to the Scottish economy”.

Also discussed at the meeting with MSPs were issues including consumer protection after Brexit, Air Passenger Duty and the how Brexit could affect Scotland’s inbound tourism sector.

SPAA represents Scotland’s major leisure travel agents and corporate travel management companies (TMCs).