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ABTA again makes case for industry specific support
ABTA has again called on Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps for tailored support for the industry.
It penned a letter ahead of the next government strategic review at the end of the month on the requirements for international travel.
It urges tailored financial support for the industry, including an extension of furlough support and business rates relief, keeping them at current levels, along with a grant scheme to get through the very difficult weeks and months ahead.
ABTA says this is vital given all restrictions have been lifted domestically, but it is different for international travel, which means the industry’s recovery lags the rest of the UK economy.
In the letter, ABTA also queried the government’s recent traffic light decisions to remove the exemption from quarantine for passengers returning from France who have had both vaccinations.
The letter also calls on government to take meaningful action on making testing more affordable including removing post-arrival testing for green list countries, or at very least enabling the use of lateral flow testing.
“While there have been some positive developments in recent weeks – most notably that people who have received both vaccinations through the NHS don’t need to quarantine when returning from amber countries – the industry continues to suffer setbacks like the recent changes we have seen to France and the Balearics,” said Luke Petherbridge, Director of Public Affairs at ABTA.
Building on a successful start in domestic cruising, ABTA wants to see a swift resumption of international cruise operations out of the UK.
“The government must take action to support the travel industry – which is not only important in terms of jobs and contributions to the economy, but also the UK’s wider recovery from the pandemic. We’re a global nation and our international connectivity underpins this.”
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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