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ABTA to remain UK-only association
A proposal by ABTA’s Board to allow companies based outside the UK to join the Association narrowly failed to win approval of its members.
The Board had suggested that ABTA remove its territorial restriction on membership to allow it to pursue interest in its services from travel companies based overseas.
However, the proposal failed to achieve the 75% of the vote needed at the General Meeting.
ABTA said it had intended to remove the territorial restriction to potentially develop its business further to offer services to companies who do not actively carry on business within the UK.
"ABTA will continue to keep the situation under review," it said following the General Meeting.
The Board did win approval at the General Meeting to select the next chair from their own ranks, rather than throwing the vote open to the grass-roots membership.
The Board said this would ensure it was chaired ‘by someone who has the full support and confidence of the Board’ and who meets its criteria.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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