ABTA is to step up its engagement with policymakers, including organising member meetings with MPs and holding a reception at the Labour Party conference.
The extra activity has been planned following the appointment today of new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who will soon form a new Cabinet.
The association plans to build on nearly 100 face-to-face meetings and briefings with a further 160 MPs and members of the House of Lords during the last Parliamentary year, which ended on 16 July.
New activity includes a programme of member visits by MPs over the summer and co-hosting a reception with UKinbound at the Labour Party conference in September.
Over the past year, the association met with a range of senior policymakers, including Tourism Minister Stephanie Peacock, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander during a visit to a local ABTA member store, Minister for EU Relations Nick Thomas-Symonds, and Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Nigel Huddleston.
Key issues discussed included the review of the Package Travel Regulations, the development of a new Tourism Growth Strategy, the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES), sustainable aviation fuel legislation, and proposals for an English visitor levy.
ABTA has also continued to push for Government support for a UK-EU youth mobility agreement.
Director of Public Affairs Luke Petherbridge said: “Real influence comes when there is a balanced and sustained public affairs programme, where we communicate the needs of ABTA members and the value of the outbound tourism sector to Ministers, MPs and Lords, as well as civil servants, advisers and other policy influencers.
