On day one of ABTA’s campaign calling for grassroots political action by travel and tourism businesses, their staff and anyone who supports the industry, 13,500 people responded by emailing their MP.
Industry supporters and staff can visit www.savefuturetravel.co.uk to petition their local MP calling for Government action to save industry jobs and protect customer money. As well as people from within the industry getting involved, an incredible 4,000 “supporters” – people who support the industry, but aren’t employed by it – emailed their local MP yesterday, demonstrating the breadth and depth of concern, and frustration at the lack of government action to date.
ABTA has repeatedly asked the UK Government to act to buy more time for normally viable and healthy businesses to provide customer refunds, while protecting the customer’s right to receive that refund.
Governments have already acted in many other countries: France, Italy, Belgium, Spain, Germany, The Netherlands and Denmark, have already proposed temporary changes to existing regulations that are not fit for purpose in this current climate, but the UK industry is still waiting for a response from our own government.
The campaign website currently includes over 20 companies supporting the campaign with logos displayed, including agents, operators and cruise lines.
The campaign has already reached 647 MPs out of a total of 650, who have all received at least one e-letter from the site. Some MPs received dozens yesterday. The letter can be used by anyone employed in the industry, and clearly sets out ABTA’s asks to help safeguard thousands of travel industry jobs. The hashtag #SaveFutureTravel trended and was used hundreds of times by the industry across Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
Mark Tanzer, ABTA’s CEO said: “We’ve seen a phenomenal response to our call to action among the industry, thank you to everyone who has got involved so far. The lack of Government action and guidance to date on refunds defies logic and has left consumers in no-man’s land, and the situation is worsening.
“We need to keep up the momentum at a crucial time. We need everyone not only to get behind the campaign, but to encourage friends and family to support it too.
“MPs will listen to their constituents, but they need to hear your voice. So if you haven’t done so already, people email your MP via www.savefuturetravel.co.uk and ask others to do the same.”
ABTA is asking its Membership, the wider travel and tourism industry, all travel agents and tour operators, their families, and anyone who supports the industry to:
1. Visit www.savefuturetravel.co.uk and send an electronic letter to MPs in support of the travel industry
2. Show support on social media with the following example posts:
Facebook: I support @ABTAlovetravel’s call to @UKgovernment to do whatever it takes to protect travel industry jobs and customer money. I have emailed my local MP to help #SaveFutureTravel. Find out more at: www.savefuturetravel.co.uk #OneTravelIndustry
Twitter: I support @ABTAtravel’s call to @GOVUK to do whatever it takes to protect travel industry jobs and customer money. I have emailed my local MP to help #SaveFutureTravel.
Find out more at: www.savefuturetravel.co.uk #OneTravelIndustry
