Representative ImageThe Future Travel Coalition (FTC) has reached out to the newly appointed Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, to highlight the significant economic contribution of the UK travel industry and to seek supportive government policies. In a letter to Burnham and his Cabinet, the FTC emphasised the potential of travel and tourism to drive economic growth, noting the sector's annual generation of over £165 billion in gross value added (GVA), which accounts for 6.7% of the UK economy and supports over 3 million jobs.
The FTC, a collective of associations and trade bodies representing a substantial portion of the UK travel market, including leisure and business travel, outlined the challenges faced by the industry. Rising taxes, high employment costs, and increased regulatory burdens are straining businesses, with the industry unable to absorb these costs indefinitely without impacting demand, investment, and employment. The letter also pointed out that consumers are grappling with the rising cost of living, exacerbated by taxes such as Air Passenger Duty and local tourism levies, which diminish the UK's competitiveness.
The Coalition welcomed recent government efforts to enhance UK-EU relations but stressed the need for further progress, particularly in youth mobility and operational barriers. The FTC expressed its readiness to collaborate with ministers on the forthcoming Tourism Growth Plan, which aims to attract over 50 million annual visitors to the UK by 2030. The Coalition highlighted the crucial role of travel and tourism businesses in implementing policy proposals, especially in addressing skills and workforce challenges
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