The Advantage Travel Partnership and AITO, The Specialist Travel Association, are calling on the Government to use reshuffle and reorganisation of departments as an opportunity to introduce much-needed change in the regulation, governance and representation of the outbound travel industry.
Historically, these responsibilities have been spread across three departments: Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Transport (DfT) and Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Bringing the outbound travel industry under the sole control of the Department for Transport, and including it in the remit of one minister, would facilitate better lines of communication and see both sides benefit from the clarity that would offer.
In a joint statement AITO and The Advantage Travel Partnership, said “Using this time of change to simplify the way the outbound travel sector is represented in Government can deliver a huge benefit to all our members and their customers. Many of our members are small businesses and navigating a complex Government structure to find the right department to deal with adds an administrative burden that is simply unsustainable.”
“By bringing the outbound travel sector fully within the remit of the Department for Transport and giving one minister the responsibility for the industry as part of their brief, our industry will be better placed to receive fair representation and support. We see this as a critical step in ensuring that the UK remains confident and visible on the international stage, allowing both businesses and leisure travellers to be connected to the rest of the world and enjoy all the benefits that brings.”
