Travel leaders create plan for future of industry

The largest travel operators in the UK are supporting the work of a coalition charged with determining how best the travel industry can create a sustainable future for itself.

British Airways, Carnival UK, The Co-operative Travel, Thomas Cook and Tui Travel have agreed to work with ABTA on a project called ‘Tourism 2023,’ which is a 15-year travel industry blueprint.

The Tourism 2023 project has been endorsed by the Prince of Wales, and also the Travel Foundation and Forum for the Future, the sustainable development charity. The project will be officially launched in Gran Canaria, at the October Travel Convention.

ABTA has said that the purpose of the project is to move from discussions about sustainable travel to providing answers as to how the travel industry will meet challenges for the foreseeable future, such as climate change, for example.

ABTA’s chief executive, Mark Tanzer, noted: “Much has been said about the future of travel and tourism. Tourism 2023 is all about doing rather than talking.”

He added: “Tourism 2023 will take a look at the big picture. It aims to answer the big questions and look at what we can do to future-proof our industry.”

The Co-operative Travel’s managing director, Mike Greenacre, has made comments that the core issue is sustainable growth for the industry.

www.abta.com