- ABTA chair warns against making travel unaffordable
- Sector supports 818,000 jobs and £52bn in GVA
- Air Passenger Duty already highest in Europe
- High costs altering consumer booking behaviour
- ABTA calls for industry breathing space and high street support
Alisa Pollard chair of England’s travel industry body ABTA has warned that the industry must work with the Westminster government to create the right conditions for growth and avoid measures that make travel unaffordable.
Speaking ahead of the ABTA Travel Convention in Madeira October 12 to October 14, 2026, she highlighted the sector’s contribution of 818,000 jobs and £52bn (€59.8bn) in gross value added. She noted that England’s Air Passenger Duty is already the highest in Europe and further taxes could limit growth potential. The convention theme is ‘Managing Uncertainty with Confidence.’
The association cautioned that piling further taxes onto the travel industry could push holiday costs beyond the reach of many consumers. According to ABTA’s Value of Outbound Travel Report, the outbound travel industry supports 818,000 jobs and delivers £52bn gross value added to England’s economy annually. High costs and cost-of-living constraints have altered consumer behaviour, with a significant market share delaying bookings to as little as two weeks before departure. In its formal Budget submission, ABTA outlined a policy wishlist to protect both businesses and travellers.
Ailsa Pollard, ABTA chair, shared: “The industry must work with Westminster government to create the right conditions for growth and avoid measures that make travel unaffordable.”
