As TTG went to press, the Queen’s Speech looked set to be delayed and the UK was still no nearer to having an official government in place, as talks continued between the Tories and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to secure a majority government. It is a chaotic situation, far from the “strong and stable” future the UK was promised.
The debacle of last week’s election result formed much of the discussion – both on and off-stage – at this year’s ITT Conference in Sorrento. For many, there was a reassurance that the expected slowdown in demand, which usually accompanies elections (and last year’s referendum result) had failed to materialise.
“Perhaps the public is getting used to uncertainty,” mused one delegate. Which can only be a good thing, because as Labour peer Lord Michael Cashman acknowledged at the conference, “we are in for an economic bumpy ride”.
And yet, as TTG reports this week, amid the gloom and political chaos there are reasons to be positive. It seems increasingly likely that the UK can now expect a soft Brexit if the DUP agrees to prop the Tories up and that would be good for travel.
Meanwhile, Westminster might be in disarray, but the travel sector is at least united. As has become clear at recent industry conferences, behind the scenes the sector has been busy holding discussions with government officials ahead of Brexit negotiations, and MSC executive chairman Pierfrancesco Vago revealed to ITT delegates he had already been in discussions with the Chamber of Shipping in preparation for the UK exiting the EU.
Luke Pollard, Abta’s former head of public affairs and newly elected Labour MP, suggests that the Brexit deal we strike has the potential to “make or break” the travel sector. Others among us might conclude that whatever the myriad challenges of leaving the EU – if there’s one industry that’s able to get itself out of a “mess”, it is travel.
