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ABTA/FTO merger not a done deal
A merger between ABTA and the Federation of Tour Operators is not a foregone conclusion, according to the latter’s director general Andy Cooper.
Cooper said discussions between the two associations were continuing and there were some benefits to a merger.
But he said that there were also practical obstacles to a union and said that if it did happen, both bodies would keep their own identities.
“Discussions are continuing, but it is certainly not a foregone conclusion,” said Cooper while attending the Institute of Travel & Tourism conference in Barbados.
“There’s a little bit of overlap between the two organisations, particularly when it comes to lobbying the Government, so a merger might make sense,” he said.
“But we’re a lean, mean fighting machine run on a much tighter budget while they have a big secretariat to manage. Everyone accepts that ABTA needs to change so it might make sense for the two of us to get together at the same time. If it did happen I don?t see why we couldn’t keep our own identities.”
Cooper said the Government had still not decided that a levy should be imposed on holidaymakers to pay for financial protection, but was hopeful that it would be put in place.
“Transport minister Alastair Darling still has to be convinced there is a need for it and then it will go out to consultation and you?ll see the airlines object to it. But there is still an opportunity to get it into the current Civil Aviation Authority bill.”
He said airlines’ argument that there was no need for financial protection because consumers don’t ask for it was flawed because of a lack of understanding about the issues.
“If there was a genuine understanding among consumers that they won?t get their money back if an airline fails then fair enough, but research shows that 50 per cent of people just assume they are covered.”
Cooper has so far spent two years at the FTO and said he had succeeded in raising the profile of the organisation.
“It was a secret squirrel organisation but now it is much more visible and we are at the forefront of lobbying. I’m thoroughly enjoying the job but I don’t know how long I will continue to do it. Previous director general Alan Flook was there for 26 years, but I don’t think I’ll beat that record.”
Report by Jeremy Skidmore
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