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Tourism should be de-politicised, says ABTA chairman
ABTA chairman Noel Josephides called on governments to put tourism higher up the agenda as he closed this year’s ABTA Travel Convention in Greece.
He said in Greece, and other countries which rely heavily on tourism, the ministry of tourism should be all-powerful, with other ministries there to support it.
"Governments should ensure the benefits of tourism are benefits for all," he said.
In an ideal world, Josephides said he believes ‘tourism should be de-politicised’ altogether and ‘put into the hands of real professionals’.
"But I don’t know of a country which has achieved this."
Referring specifically to the Greek situation, he said: "Greeks recently voted for a fresh start. Let’s hope they make sure this applies to tourism as well."
Thanking the Costa Navarino and the region of the Peloponnese for hosting this year’s convention, Josephides said: "It’s not an uncommon phenomenon to doubt the ability of the Greeks to organise anything properly, but I hope these few days have changed your mind.
"Unashamed luxury is not the only reason to visit Greece," he added, pointing to the way of life, the people and, ‘in these darks days, the sheer fighting spirit’.
He asked delegates to think back to the early days of Greek tourism when backpackers arrived at Athens to take boats to the islands
"Like so many refugees today, we would get off the ferries and be met by the local ladies who would offer us lodging in spotlessly clean rooms at ridiculous prices," he said.
"They created the sharing economy before the sharing economy of today was even thought of."
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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