Government

'These package travel reforms are a welcome starting point – but there is much more to do'

Alan Bowen, legal advisor to the Association of Atol Companies, runs the rule of the government's proposed changes to the Package Travel Regulations

Package travel reforms draw mixed reaction as ministers swerve wholesale change

Wider scope for businesses to recover costs from suppliers and no more linked travel arrangements, but more fundamental change kicked further down the road

'They've not done us any favours': agencies forced to cut cloth ahead of peaks after latest Budget

Increases in minimum wage will push up costs for high street agencies – again – with one agency boss telling TTG the chancellor's latest measures would cost their business the equivalent of an extra staff member

'We've got to hope this Budget is enough to ensure bookings return next year'

However, with businesses looking at costs going up by £1,000 per employee, some will be weighing up if they can afford the resource needed to convert this business, writes Alan Bowen

Industry blasts rising employment costs and warns Budget risks talent vacuum

Travel reflects on a wide range of changes to business rates, taxes and minimum wages laid out in chancellor Rachel Reeves's Budget

Less than a quarter of businesses set to benefit from chancellor's business rate concessions

Analysis by the Treasury predicts just 23% of businesses will see a fall in their business rate bills

Everything you need to know about the chancellor's Autumn Statement – and what it means for travel

Taxation, business rates, minimum wages, Air Passenger Duty, savings, interest rates and more – everything travel agents need to know about Rachel Reeves's Autumn Statement

Heathrow gets the go-ahead for £33 billion third runway plan – so what happens now?

The government has approved Heathrow’s more expensive option for expansion via a third full-length runway, but development is still a long way off...

What does travel want – and need – from the chancellor's Autumn Statement?

Industry awaits latest Budget with trepidation, and appeals to chancellor not to put travel out of reach of average income consumers

US Travel Association boss compares country's negative image to that of China

US needs to overcome unfriendly image where visitors ‘fear detention’, says Geoff Freeman

Morocco, India and Jordan among 11 more countries added Foreign Office's tainted alcohol warning list

The latest additions came just a few days prior to the first anniversary of the death in Laos of Simone White – daughter of Go Travel agent Sue White – from methanol poisoning

Brands rapped for misleading hotel pricing as ASA keeps travel in the spotlight

Booking.com and several hotel brands have been sanctioned by the Advertising Standards Authority over misleading prices in promotional ads

Holiday sector left feeling the heat in huge crackdown on online pricing practices

Holiday and travel businesses issued nearly 20 written warnings by the Competition and Markets Authority – the most of any sector in the spotlight

Transport secretary insists SAF legislation not designed to make flying more expensive

Heidi Alexander tells Airlines 2025 conference demand for flights 'only going in one direction' and that the cost of sustainable fuel should not be a barrier to more flights

'Governments have all the tools they need to tackle overtourism today,' WTM London hears

Venice and Copenhagen flagged as 'good' examples of places where government organisations had worked to ease overtourism pressures on communities

New tourism minister talks up her 'positive' experiences using travel agents

Stephanie Peacock praises travel agents but stops short of backing a campaign encouraging people to use them

'A prompt solution was never likely': trade braces for US flight disruption as government shutdown continues

From domestic flight cancellations to free national park entry, US-specialist travel agents and tour operators have shared how their clients are faring during the shutdown

'Record numbers' holidaying in Greece's shoulder seasons as country vows continue prioritising sustainable growth

How Greece is prioritising sustainability alongside increasing visitor numbers, as the country’s tourism minister vows to continue investing in regenerative tourism

Audley Travel to 'immediately' fly customers in Tanzania home amid election protests

The nation's election was marred by protests, which have continued after the result was confirmed on Saturday (1 November), prompting an FCDO alert

WTM London confirms new tourism minister will attend the event

Stephanie Peacock, who was appointed tourism minister in September, will attend the opening day of WTM London, it has been confirmed

Travel firms must lobby all political parties before next election, says Labour peer – including 'serious force' Reform UK

Broadcaster and Labour peer Ayesha Hazarika says travel agencies must keep plugging away with their local MPs, mayors and councils despite the UK's 'febrile' political landscape

Heathrow expansion: final decision 'to be made within this parliament', government insists

Transport secretary promises 'swift and robust' review of rules governing airport expansion to ensure a final planning decision on Heathrow's expansion plans can be made by summer 2029

Foreign Office extends methanol poisoning warning to Mexico and Japan

Mexico and Japan among placed on warning list, which reflects existing guidance for Laos, Thailand and Vietnam

Poll: Is the timing of the Budget going to give agents enough time to plan for peaks?

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will deliver her autumn Budget on 26 November – the best part of a month later than last year's. So will it force agents to put their peaks plans on hold for the moment?