Speak up for Travel! ABTA Travel Day of Action

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Published 22 Jun 2021 in Raising Awareness

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We’re calling on all colleagues to join members of the travel industry by supporting the ABTA Travel Day of Action on 23^rd June. Show your support for our Travel colleagues and write to your local MP to ensure a safe and swift return to international travel. ✈

Why there needs to be clarity for Travel

This day of action comes at a critical time for the travel industry, just ahead of the Government’s review of requirements for international travel at the end of this month. We’re passionate that international travel should return safely and in a risk-managed way, allowing customers who want to travel during the peak summer period, by expanding the Green list in line with the evidence and making restrictions more proportionate, whilst keeping a strong red list to guard against variants.

We also support the notion to bring forward a package of tailored financial support for the industry, recognising that the travel sector’s ability to trade and generate income is much slower than first anticipated and more gradual than for businesses in the domestic economy.

How you can get involved

As Travel is a key strategic priority for the Society and our members, many colleagues have already shared an interest in how to support our industry with the most impact. This day is an opportunity for us all to come together and show our solidarity in a true co-operative manner. The day of action is timed to take place ahead of when the Government is expected to discuss and decide on the next steps for international travel, which is due to take effect on 28 June.

You as colleagues have the chance to support the cause by writing to your local MP and can ultimately lobby for change in the Houses of Parliament. You can also get involved in a number of different activities on the day hosted by ABTA, click here for more information.

To take part, send an email or letter, by simply following the instructions below. It should only take two minutes but will make a huge difference in the call for action.

I am a colleague wanting to support the ABTA Travel Day of Action by email:

Go to https://members.parliament.uk
Find your MP's email address
Copy the wording below and paste it into a new email
Send the wording to your MP's email address and copy in communications@midcounties.coop in the CC box along with the subject line ‘Speak up for Travel’
Insert your name and home address at the base of your email: this must be done otherwise the MP will not be able to work on your behalf

I am a colleague wanting to support the ABTA Travel Day of Action by writing a letter:

Go to https://members.parliament.uk and type your home postcode into the search box
Find your MP details
Print out the letter here
Insert the name and title of MP above the address
Insert the name of MP after Dear
Insert your name and home address after Yours Sincerely (this must be done otherwise the MP will not be able to work on your behalf.
Post the letter to your MP in a stamped envelope

Email wording to copy

I am writing to you today to urge you to Speak up for Travel by supporting a safe, affordable return to international travel in time for the peak summer period.

International travel connects the UK to the world and enables tens of millions of UK residents to travel overseas, whether on business, for holidays, or to reunite families and friends. It enables millions of tourists, travellers and business people to visit our shores to spend time in our world-class cities and attractions, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs across the whole of the UK in our travel, hospitality and leisure industries.

A safe restart to international travel is possible and can be achieved at the same time as the domestic reopening. Our world leading vaccination programme, and the measures put in place at the border, mean we can safely reopen the UK for international travel. I am asking you to support the travel industry’s call on the UK Government to:

Allow international travel to return safely and in a risk managed way by properly implementing the Global Travel Taskforce’s plan for a traffic-light system, by expanding the Green list in line with the evidence and making restrictions more proportionate, whilst keeping a strong red list to guard against variants.
Bring forward a package of tailored financial support, including extension of furlough support, recognising that the travel sector’s ability to trade and generate income is much slower than first anticipated and more gradual than for businesses in the domestic economy.

Now is the time to speak up to ensure a safe return of international travel, ensuring the long-term economic recovery of the UK.