ABTA is to release a report next week outlining the travel industry’s key priorities for the Brexit negotiations and calling on the Government to ensure there are ‘clear transition plans’ in place by the end of the year.
"As the official two-year countdown to Brexit begins, the priority for the travel industry is continuing to make sure that the Government recognises the industry’s needs for a successful Brexit," said ABTA director of public affairs Alan Wardle.
In a statement released shortly after Prime Minister Theresa May triggered Article 50 to begin the formal Brexit negotiations with the EU, he said things Britons take for granted, such as travel without restriction across Europe, will need to be secured.
"We have been arming the Government with facts and figures to empower their negotiations and will continue to do this over the coming months," he added.
"We are in unchartered waters and inevitably there is going to be some nervousness. It is important the government helps maintain business and consumer confidence in travel at a time of uncertainty.
"Getting agreement on transition arrangements will be part of that but we also need to be wary about fearmongering and doomsaying tactics.
"We shouldn’t forget this is a two way negotiation – UK residents made 37 million business and holiday visits to the EU in 2015. We are a massively important travel market to the EU and its equally in their interests to have a good deal for travel and tourism.
"ABTA will be making these points to politicians across Europe in the coming months."
