ABTA reveals travel policy goals before General Election in Budget proposal

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ABTA has communicated with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt MP regarding key policy priorities in the realm of travel and tourism, coinciding with the Treasury’s preparations for the upcoming Budget. Despite the official deliberations slated for the first week of March, the Treasury mandates that formal submissions related to the Budget be submitted by January 24, 2024.

In its submission, ABTA underscores the vital role of outbound travel and tourism in the UK economy and highlights the public’s strong inclination towards international vacations. The letter articulates several requests, including:

1. Advocating for a comprehensive review of the UK’s regulatory, taxation, and business support frameworks to facilitate the industry’s transition to net zero. The goal is to position the UK optimally for job creation and economic opportunities associated with this transition.
2. Urging the coordination of policies to bolster the establishment of a domestic Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) industry. ABTA recommends expediting measures like a price certainty mechanism to align with the government’s commitment to constructing five SAF plants by 2025.
3. Stressing the continued importance of business rates support for retail enterprises, particularly as many grapple with clearing Covid-era debts and confronting heightened operational costs. The association also calls for rates reform tailored to bolster high street businesses.
4. Proposing the negotiation of new Youth Mobility Scheme arrangements with EU countries to address challenges arising from post-Brexit restrictions on labor mobility in the sector.

ABTA’s Director of Public Affairs, said:

“It is always important to press home the policies which will help our sector to thrive, ahead of any Budget. But with a General Election certain in the next 12 months, it’s important to strongly represent travel and tourism both now and throughout the year.

“Our Budget submission is one of the many ways in which ABTA will be speaking with politicians across the political spectrum, to help realise our sector’s potential for growth and contribution to the UK economy.”