Theresa May’s decision to ask European Union leaders to postpone Brexit for three months is bad news for the travel industry, according to AITO director Noel Josephides.
He said a longer delay would have been better.
The Sunvil chairman said: "We’ve already had three months of uncertainty and a delay until June 29 merely continues the agony and adds another three months of uncertainty for the travel industry."
"It’s not the only issue that’s affecting holidays this year, but it’s a major issue.
"A longer delay would at least help restore the confidence of the travelling public and would allow the European market a chance of recovery."
He added: "Non-EU destinations are capitalising on what is happening, at the expense of EU destinations.
"Turkey is booming. Tunisia is doing well, as is Egypt. There is concern over currency, but the fact is sterling is stronger against the euro now than it was last year, but the message is just not getting through to people, because they are worried about Brexit."
The Prime Minister will travel to Brussels today to try to persuade the other 27 countries to delay the UK’s exit beyond March 29.
If European members decline the request, the UK will leave the EU next Friday without a withdrawal agreement.
May has asked the EU for a short extension of Article 50, until June 30, by which time she hopes enough MPs will back the deal.
European Council President Donald Tusk has indicated the EU would agree to a short extension, on condition the deal is agreed by MPs next week.
However, in her speech last night, May said she would not postpone Brexit past June 30.
For Advantage CEO John McEwan said: "It’s a travesty that parliamentarians across all parties have not been able to sort this out.
"Personally, I don’t favour a longer extension. Extending Brexit for a year or beyond will disrupt the whole country and won’t be beneficial."
A TravelMole poll shows the trade is evenly split on the effect of different Brexit outcomes. When asked the question: Do you think a hard, soft or no Brexit will be better for the travel industry? 33.2% responded ‘hard’; 32.95% opted for ‘soft’, while 33.84% said the industry would be better off if the UK stayed in the EU.
