Although, as travel leaders reacted to the not-so-surprising news of Truss’s political downfall on Thursday (20 October), they were not calling for rabbits to be pulled from hats or show-stopping spectacles – just some stability and certainty from the UK’s governing party with which to help the industry rebuild.

As Advantage Travel Partnership chief Julia Lo Bue-Said told TTG: “Businesses cannot continue with constant uncertainty. The focus must urgently turn to stabilising an already fragile economy and supporting businesses and people that remain vulnerable.”

Writing in a blog post, Abta chief Mark Tanzer was quick to stress that, away from the Westminster soap opera, many of the challenges businesses are facing remain “and will continue to do so, regardless of what happens with the current administration”.

He said Abta was “making sure the industry’s voice is heard, regardless of the political turmoil and noise” and would continue to offer those in power “constructive policy solutions based on hard evidence”.

Tanzer said the association, and country at large, was still expecting to hear more from the newly installed chancellor Jeremy Hunt at the end of the month as he sets out his fiscal plan, after ripping to shreds the ambitions of his predecessor. 

“Earlier this week, I wrote to Mr Hunt to lay bare the unique situation the industry is in when compared with other sectors of the UK economy,” said Tanzer, describing the “extremely challenging environment” still facing many members.

Abta, said Tanzer, was calling on the government “in whichever form it ends up taking after today’s news” to take action to support travel firms by extending business rates relief support beyond April 2023, working with the banks to ease pressures of Covid loan repayments and freeze Air Passenger Duty.

The association is also pushing for travel businesses to be eligible for additional energy bill support beyond the initial six-month period and urging members to make their voices heard.

Also reacting to the departure of Truss, Joss Croft, chief executive of UKinbound said the UK “can’t afford further political turmoil”, describing how “recent instability” over the mini-Budget reversal had already led to a “vital economic growth lever” – the VAT-free shopping scheme – being ditched.

“We need stability and a new prime minister to be in place as soon as possible,” he said.

Aito executive director Martyn Sumners took aim at the “churn within government” and its impact on businesses and recent policy U-turns “making life difficult”.

“We hope the future PM will deliver stability to our industry. We have all suffered greatly during Covid and desperately need recognition of that fact, as per ONS figures – plus practical help. Currency volatility is a nightmare for travel, as are interest rate increases and the cost of fuel – not just for aviation but also for our offices and for everyone’s homes,” he said. 

Meanwhile Steve Witt, co-founder of homeworking agency Not Just Travel, assessed consumer confidence around holiday spending and said he believed today’s news “starts to create more certainty for the economy and for us all”.