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Trade split over Brexit image concerns
Brexit will have a negative impact on the UK’s reputation as a holiday destination, according to more than half of 1,622 travel industry executives questioned in a survey for World Travel Market.
WTM London’s annual survey found 12% of executives said the impact of Brexit on the UK’s reputation among holidaymakers will be significantly negative, with 41% saying it will be slightly negative.
Almost a third (31%) predict there will be no impact, while 16% predict a positive outcome (13% slight, 3% significant).
When travel professionals were asked about the impact of Brexit on their own company or organisation there were similar results, with just over half fearing the impact would be negative (11% significant, 44% slight); a third (34%) said there would be no impact; and 11% anticipate a positive effect (2% significant, 9% slight).
The industry is also split on the impact of Brexit on prices, with 50% of executives not anticipating price rises, while 16% do expect prices to rise and 34% are not sure about the future implications.
WTM London spokesman Paul Nelson said the trade fears for the reputation of Britain.
"Political wrangling and rhetoric during Brexit negotiations don’t help and anti-European sentiment in some of the national newspapers might well be affecting the UK’s reputation among overseas holidaymakers," he said.
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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