19 OCTOBER 2020

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Article from BTNews 19 OCTOBER 2020

ABTA 2 – ‘Tourism for Good’

Last week’s ABTA’s annual conference, the strangest ever known, functioning entirely online, launched the travel trade organisation’s ‘Tourism for Good’ report setting out how the industry can place sustainability at the heart of its recovery.

The report explains how it is imperative to purposefully rebuild a more responsible and resilient tourism industry that benefits all those involved – providing a framework for collaborative action to build better places to live in and better places to visit.

Outbound tourism generates significant economic, employment and social benefits in the UK and around the world; collaborative action can ensure its challenges are addressed and its positive impacts are maximised for the global good.

The report emphasises the huge value and contribution of UK outbound tourism, both domestically and internationally, in terms of job creation, livelihood opportunities, social benefits for local communities, support and funding for nature and wildlife conservation and cultural heritage protection.

New research from the CEBR (Centre for Economics and Business Research) shows that the aggregate global GVA (gross value added) of UK outbound tourism is estimated at $81.4bn and supports 2.7m jobs, while in the UK it generates £37bn (1.8% of GDP) in aggregate economic impact and 526,000 full-time equivalent jobs. For certain destinations – The Maldives, Jamaica, Cyprus, Malta, Mauritius, Greece, Spain and Portugal – which rely heavily on tourism already, UK holidaymakers alone make a marked contribution of more than 1% of national GDP.

The report also acknowledges the challenges faced by the sector, and, through case studies and examples, outlines how the industry is taking steps to address its biggest issues by decarbonising, cutting waste and water consumption, ensuring that local people benefit from tourism, respecting human rights and managing animal welfare. Due to the global nature of these challenges, the report highlights that there is more to be done, with the best outcomes being achieved through a concerted worldwide approach and a willingness to share and learn across the industry.

Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive of ABTA – The Travel Association, said: “Tourism’s unexpected standstill has given us a unique opportunity to reflect on the type of industry we want to rebuild, fit for the challenges we face and a contributor to the global good. I believe the future prosperity of the industry depends on putting sustainability at the heart of our recovery. This report therefore underlines ABTA’s commitment to working with our Members, the wider travel industry, and the UK Government to create a more sustainable industry that allows everyone a share in its success.”

The full report is available online at www.abta.com/tourismforgood.

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