United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
MPs support calls for Minister for Travel
MPs have tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons calling for the appointment of a Minister for Travel.
So far it has been signed by six MPs.
The motion says the travel trade is ‘a crucial sector of the British economy’ which is ‘facing an existential threat as a result of the coronavirus pandemic’.
It points out that many travel businesses have closed, saying there are’many more on the brink of collapse due to the Covid-19 crisis with at least 90,000 jobs already lost or at risk across high street travel agents and the wider travel trade sector’.
It welcomed the recent call by the TSSA transport and travel union and others for the creation of a Minister for Travel to ‘champion’ the industry.
It also called on the government to provide bespoke sector-specific government support and reconsider an extension of furlough for the industry.
The MPs to have signed the motion are Russell-Moyle of Brighton, Kemptown, Rachel Hopkins of Luton South, Ian Lavery of Wansbeck and John McDonnell of Hayes and Harlingon, who are all labour. It was also signed by independent MP Claudia Webbe of Leicester East and DUP MP Jim Shannon of Strangford.
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
Mark Jaronski of Explore Georgia on FIFA World Cup 2026
Connecting Small Businesses to Global Tourism Markets: Nate Huff of Tourism Exchange
North Carolina’s Resilience: Wit Tuttell on Recovery and Tourism
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
BA suspending all Heathrow to Abu Dhabi flights
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel
Foreign Office issues travel advisory for winter sun destinations