ABTA CEO Mark Tanzer, opening the 2024 Travel Convention, emphasised the importance of collaboration in travel as the industry collectively hopes to "shine a torch into the future and help us find the pathway forward"
On the timing of this year's Convention, Mark said this period "marks that time of the year when we take stock of where we are – individually and collectively – and of where we’re going."
In line with that, this year's Convention is themed around 'Shaping Our Future'. As the industry strives to shape the clearest construction of what the future holds, Mark noted that it is likely "a pathway that will have twists and turns, and maybe some cul de sacs which we need to reverse back up – but it’s a journey that we can embark on with confidence."
That confidence is matched by travel consumers, according to the association's recent Confidence Index that reported rising reassuredness around travel, especially amongst those booking with the trade.
Amidst those twists, turns, and cul de sacs, how does the ABTA CEO believe the industry can best approach the future?
"If we want to continue the amazing success story that tourism has been over the past 75 years, we need to find common cause in tackling the challenges ahead... it's quite possible that in future certain types of holiday, in certain locations, will become unviable, and the general unpredictability of the weather increases business risk throughout the supply chain.
"I do believe that the travel industry is at a point of inflexion, and that it will look quite different when ABTA reaches our century in 25 years' time. The challenges we face are not existential, but they do need us to recognise the need for change and to work collaboratively to build a future that delivers for all."
ABTA's Travel Convention 2024 is taking place from October 7th to 9th, 2024.
