The association is urging companies to get in touch with their local MPs, councillors and devolved administration representatives to highlight the importance of the sector through employing staff and generating income for the local economy.

Launched in 2010, Small Business Saturday is an annual non-commercial event, calling on people to support small businesses in their communities.

This year’s event is due to take place on 3 December.

Abta has provided a template letter, which can be edited and personalised for members to send to their local politicians, as well as social media posts to promote the wide travel sector.

Businesses are being encouraged to include data on the contribution to their constituency’s local economy, which can be found in Abta’s value of travel data dashboard and template materials can be found at abta.com/SmallBusinessSaturday

Luke Petherbridge, Abta’s director of public affairs, said: “Politicians are often heavily engaged in Small Business Saturday – spending time on the high street and getting involved in local initiatives that celebrate the business community. 

“Invite them to your store, share our data on travel’s contribution to their constituency, tag them into social media posts – all these things help raise awareness of local travel businesses and the important role they have in helping high streets and communities thrive.

“Demonstrating the value of our industry is an ongoing job, we’re doing that by speaking with MPs, ministers and government officials, but it’s also essential that travel businesses establish direct relationships with politicians and make the case at a local level of why our industry matters.”