ABTA requests urgent government meeting for travel sector support
UK travel association ABTA has requested an urgent meeting with the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, and the UK Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps, to discuss the travel and tourism sector’s current financial situation and its pressing need for financial support
It follows other ABTA approaches to the Government on the same issues over the past two weeks. ABTA has made its fresh request in the wake of France imposing a temporary ban on most travel from the UK.
ABTA Chief Executive, Mark Tanzer, said: “The Government has recognised the plight of the UK hospitality sector, with trade down by 40 per cent in December. But at the same time, the travel industry, where income has been down by 78 per cent this year, and further impacted by Omicron restrictions since late November, continues to be ignored.
“Over the past fortnight, we have heard nothing from Government about how travel and tourism might be supported. The time to act is now.”
Earlier this year, ABTA highlighted its intent to legally challenge the adequacy of the UK government’s financial support for the UK travel sector during the pandemic.