The UK's Brexit Strategy Should Terrify the Travel Industry (But It Doesn't)
Skift Take
The travel industry needs to wake up. Five months have passed since the Brexit vote and the UK government has still to spell out its plans. The British travel industry has been a huge beneficiary of many of the initiatives brought in by the EU and stands to lose out if it does not play a part in mapping out the future.
Five months have passed since the UK's historic Brexit vote and still we know almost nothing about what life will be like when the country leaves the European Union.
Aviation, the sale of holidays, and perhaps the most importantly the free movement of people are all tied in with the other 27 member states. Leaving is going to be very messy and given the benefits that the travel industry gets (including certain taxes) there is a lot to lose.
Uncertainty is terrible for the economy, terrible for business, and terrible for the public. Beyond banal platitudes about “the best possible deal” Prime Minister Theresa May has given little away.
Negotiations are either being carried out behind closed doors or they are not being carried out at all.
This all puts the travel industry in a a very difficult position.
At the recent WTM London trade event, a panel discussion took place to debate the impact of Brexit.
On stage were senior representatives from four businesses: Thomas Cook, Monarch, JacTravel, and Cox & Kings. Collectively they represent companies generating billions of dollars in revenues from interests in the UK, Europe, and the world.
Despite the dark clouds gathering on the horizon, everyone seemed relaxed.
Of the panellists, only Monarch’s CEO Andrew Swaffield said his business had suffered from the vote, with the others insisting that it was pretty much business as usual.
“I am still exceptionally pos
