The travel trade has got the change it sought after Labour stormed to victory in Thursday’s general election (4 July), and the sector has already identified several key priorities for the new government.
More than a third (34%) of the 451 respondents to TTG’s snap general election survey – 40% of whom were travel agents – said it was their intention to vote for Labour, with just shy of 21% giving the Conservative Party their blessing.
The poll broadly reflected the general election outcome, with the Liberal Democrats proving travel’s third strongest preference (16%), closely followed by Reform UK (13%) and the Green Party (6%).
It also revealed travel’s key demands of a new Labour administration, led by addressing the cost of living crisis, which resonated with nearly two-thirds of respondents (64%), and growing the economy (45%).
Interestingly, the UK’s post-Brexit relationship with the EU was the next most pressing concern, with 44% of respondents calling on Labour to seek to repair the UK’s relationship with the EU.
In addition, more than a quarter of respondents (26%) said preparing the UK for new EU border rules – the Entry-Exit system coming into effect in the autumn and Etias next year – was a major priority.
Steve Witt, co-founder of Not Just Travel, said the "certainty and stability" that comes with a "clear election result" would boost consumer confidence and given travel a "post-election boost".
"We are looking forward to a period of long-term clarity which provides consumers with confidence to move ahead and feel comfortable in spending on their favourite purchases – holidays," Witt added.
Reaction from across the travel trade has come in since Labour declared victory during the early hours of Friday morning (5 July); Travel Network Group chief executive Gary Lewis has called for a dedicated minister for travel and tourism, measures to make the airport sector more resilient – an issue raised by TTG survey respondents – and actions to address the cost of living crisis and make travel more accessible to all.
Julia Lo Bue-Said, Advantage Travel Partnership chief executive, said the election result was an opportunity for the Advantage-led Outbound Travel lobby group to extol the economic benefits and impact of the outbound sector, another issue highlighted by many TTG survey respondents.
Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer, meanwhile, said urgent action as needed to help travel achieve its sustainability goals, agree youth mobility terms with the EU to help young people work abroad, and reform business rates, something echoed by the Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association – and with high street regeneration proving the sixth biggest priority for TTG survey respondents.
There were several high profile scalps after the Conservative Party lost 250 seats, including Jacob Rees-Mogg, Liz Truss, Penny Mordaunt and Covid era transport secretary Grant Shapps, as well as serving transport secretary Mark Harper.
Other pressing issues raised by survey respondents included greater recognition of the travel industry’s economic contribution (25%), high street regeneration (23%), removing the 100ml liquid rule and restoring a level playing field at UK airports (22%) and reforming Air Passenger Duty (21%), while improving the UK’s domestic transport infrastructure (20%) rounded out the trade’s top 10 demands.
Here are just some of the comments TTG received on its survey:
