The day after launching its #SaveFutureTravel campaign, ABTA has announced that 13,500 people have already responded by emailing their MP to amend the Package Travel Regulations (PTR) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As well as people working within the travel industry, ABTA reports that 4,000 supporters - people who support the travel industry but are not employees - emailed their MP yesterday. So far, the campaign has already reached 647 MPs out of a total of 650.
Industry workers and supporters have been urged to visit www.savefuturetravel.co.uk to lobby their MP, calling for government action to save industry jobs and protect consumer money. ABTA stepped up the campaign yesterday, following on from repeatedly asking the UK government to act to buy more time for normally viable businesses to provide customer refunds. The organisation has cited the governments of France, Italy, Belgium, Spain, The Netherlands and Denmark as already acting to help travel businesses and protect the right of customers to receive refunds.
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.?
More than 20 companies have supported the campaign, including agents, operators and cruise lines and #SaveFutureTravel has trended across Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
Alistair Rowland, chief retail officer of Midcounties Coop Travel and ABTA Chairman, said: ?Midcounties Coop Travel is delighted to support such a great initiative. MPs in their constituencies will hear from sustainable businesses and their supply chain and customers how much they?re needed in their communities and a small change in legislation will mean a big difference to the industry?s future. We all need to support ?Save Future Travel?."
Jacqueline Dobson, president of Barrhead Travel said: ?Today, Barrhead Travel gladly welcomes the latest campaign from ABTA which highlights some of the biggest challenges that the travel industry faces right now as global tourism comes to a standstill. Now more than ever, the travel industry needs to stand together and this campaign is indicative of the unity that it brings. Travel is more than just a business for many of us; it is a significant part of our lives both professionally and personally and our message needs to be heard ? that the UK government must do whatever it takes to save future travel.?
Rachel O?Reilly, spokesperson for Kuoni, said: ?Our staff have welcomed the ABTA campaign and many of our team have used the microsite today to write to their local MPs. Kuoni is a company that prides itself on customer service, so we want to help customers through this crisis and protect their money whilst at the same time we all want travel businesses to survive this awful situation and thrive in the future. Travel is life changing and life defining, it?s full of people who care passionately about people and places and we will do whatever it takes to urge the government to protect jobs in the travel industry and people?s livelihoods.?
