Government acts on ABTA’s call to extend business rates support

Friday, November 18, 2022

ABTA has welcomed the extension of business rate support for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses announced in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement. The support, which has been available to travel agents as a Covid-19 recovery measure, was due to end in April 2023 but is now expected to continue for the next financial year with the reduction in rates increased to 75% for eligible businesses.

Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive of ABTA – The Travel Association said:

“We’re pleased the Government has responded to our calls to extend the business rates support for retailers. This is something we have been consistently raising with Government for months and it is welcome that they have chosen to act on our recommendation. The rates relief provides much-needed breathing space for retail travel agents as they work to recover from the detrimental impacts of COVID-19 travel restrictions.

“However, from the overall package, businesses will continue to face higher costs including through the planned revaluation of business rates in April 2023. We will continue to stress to Government the unique position of the travel industry given the reopening of international travel was significantly later than the rest of the UK economy and the need for ongoing support.

“The Government is also planning to increase Air Passenger Duty in line with RPI inflation from 2024-25, While the delayed increase does provide a window for businesses to continue to build on their recovery, it will add extra cost to business trips and holidays in future.”

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