Eliana Willis

ABTA has requested an urgent meeting with the chancellor of the exchequer, Rishi Sunak, and the secretary of state for transport, Grant Shapps, to discuss the financial situation in the tourism sector.
The body argues there is a pressing need for financial support for the industry.
It follows other ABTA approaches to the government on the same issues over the past two weeks.  ADVERTISEMENTABTA has made its fresh request in the wake of France imposing a temporary ban on most travel from the UK.
ABTA chief executive, Mark Tanzer, said: “The government has recognised the plight of the UK hospitality sector, with trade down by 40 per cent in December.
“But at the same time, the travel industry, where income has been down by 78 per cent this year, and further impacted by Omicron restrictions since late November, continues to be ignored.
“Over the past fortnight, we have heard nothing from government about how travel and tourism might be supported. 
“The time to act is now.”

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Explore has announced the recruitment of Jae Hopkins, who will take up the role of marketing director at the company on January 4th.
Hopkins joins Explore from a long-established career in marketing, including marketing director roles at Exodus Travels and Eurotunnel.
Most recently, she helped found disruptive start-up Ultimate Travel Club – a members’ club for commission-free travel.   
Michael Edwards, managing director at Explore, commented: “I’m delighted to welcome Jae to the team at what is a pivotal time for the business.
“Jae brings a wealth of experience both within and beyond the travel industry, and a passion for mentoring and development. ADVERTISEMENT“Explore has proven itself to be a company that not only leads the way in creating unforgettable travel experiences, but also does the right thing by its customers – in tough times as well as good.”
Part of the Hotelplan group, Explore is a leading adventure travel specialist that celebrated 40 years of operation earlier this year.

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Visit Greater Palm Springs has confirmed Kimber Foster will take over as director of Palm Springs Tourism.
In the role, Foster will work closely with the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism to drive awareness of and increase visitation to the city. 
She will lead the development and implementation of the City of Palm Springs strategic marketing plan and work together with the Visit Greater Palm Springs marketing and destination teams and stakeholders to promote visitation.
Foster brings 20 years of non-profit, agency and destination marketing/communications experience to this role.
She comes to us from Grapevine, Texas, where she served as director of marketing and communications for the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau for the past five years.ADVERTISEMENTDuring her tenure there, Foster developed and implemented strategies to promote the City of Grapevine, with a focus on leisure travel, convention groups and high-profile festivals and special events.
“Kimber brings great energy and experience to our team,” said Colleen Pace, Visit Greater Palm Springs chief sales and marketing officer.
“We look forward to her contributions and collaboration across our tourism community.”

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ABTA has joined calls for a relaxation of testing requirements for travellers to and from the UK.
The government earlier announced it is removing 11 countries from the red list, which were originally added to slow down the introduction of the Omicron variant to the UK.
However, with the variant now dominant in the UK, the restrictions have become redundant.
Mark Tanzer, chief executive of ABTA, said: “The removal of countries from the red list is a sensible step. 
“However, the government has always been clear that once the Omicron variant is widespread across the UK there would be little rationale for retaining any restrictions on international travel, so the government must explain why temporary testing requirements have been retained until the first week of January.”ADVERTISEMENTThe government said it recognised the impact that temporary health measures have on the travel and aviation industry.
These measures – the red list, testing for arrivals and self-isolation requirements for vaccinated travellers – will be reviewed again early in the new year on January 5th.
Tanzer continued: “With the testing measures now extending over the Christmas and New Year period, and the industry quickly approaching peak-booking season for summer 2022, travel businesses are facing a very serious situation.
“Consumer confidence in travel has suffered a significant setback, which will outlast these restrictions.
“The government must acknowledge this by bringing forward grant support to help businesses through the difficult weeks ahead.
“Almost two years into this crisis, there has still been no business support from the treasury to address directly the impact on UK businesses of the travel restrictions.”
ABTA research suggests employment across the travel industry has halved since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020.
Tanzer concludes: “We also need the government to focus on providing the stability that is essential to rebuild consumer confidence in the longer-term.
“This must include a robust plan to deal with future variants, developed with public health experts and the industry.
“As part of this there should be transition arrangements for the red list – which would enable people overseas when decisions are taken to place a country on the red list to complete self-isolation at home, along with additional testing measures, to avoid costly quarantine – as well as moving away from pre-departure testing, which is the single greatest barrier to getting people travelling again.”

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UKinbound and 67 business leaders from the tourism industry have written to the prime minister, Boris Johnson, to ask for emergency financial support in light of the Omicron travel restrictions.
Signed by attractions, destinations, hotels, transport providers and tour operators from across the country, the letter emphasised that inbound tourism has been in peril for 22 months and that the latest restrictions have come at considerable cost to businesses that are on the cusp of recovery.
Alongside highlighting that even pre-Omicron businesses were struggling, the communication outlined that the re-introduction of pre-departure testing, day two PCR testing and the need to isolate pre-results, are causing mass cancellations.
To support tourism businesses that have been significantly impacted by the new restrictions, three asks were presented:

Provide emergency grant support for businesses in the inbound tourism industry, including accommodation providers, attractions, destinations, destination management companies, transport operators, tour operators and service providers.
Allocate the £1.5 billion Business Rates Relief Fund to businesses most impacted by Covid-19.
Allocate the remaining Additional Restrictions Grant funding to businesses facing direct challenges as a result of Covid-19.

Joss Croft, chief executive UKinbound, said: “Almost every UK business that works in inbound tourism has been affected by the Omicron travel restrictions.
“These new constrains have directly restricted businesses’ ability to trade and with Government support all but ceased, the industry is in a precarious position.ADVERTISEMENT“We desperately need emergency funding that would allow businesses to weather the direct effects of Omicron.
“We have therefore asked government to work with the industry, prior to the next restrictions review date of December 21st to develop a suitable fund.”
Last week, UKinbound released new survey results after over 100-member businesses provided feedback regarding the impact of the new UK border restrictions imposed due to the Omicron variant.
Some 86 per cent confirmed they have received cancellations or are expecting to receive further cancellations in the run up to Christmas.

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VisitBritain has announced a new fund available to destination management companies and inbound tour operators to support in building back demand for Britain.
The £300,000 Destination Management Company and Inbound Tour Operator Amplification and Distribution Fund is open to eligible companies and inbound tour operators to apply for grant funding to develop and market tourism to Britain, working with international tour operators to dial-up promotion in their 2022 programmes.
VisitBritain is seeking destination management companies and inbound tour operators who can develop and market new Britain itineraries, with a focus on extending the tourism season, and see these incorporated in to the 2022 sales effort of international tour operators in the fund’s target markets of France, Germany and the United States.
VisitBritain chief executive, Sally Balcombe, said: “We are very pleased to announce this new grant funding, in response to a clear ask from the industry, to support destination management companies and inbound tour operators at a critical time in the sector’s recovery.
“Our priority is building back demand and visitor spending for those most likely to visit in 2022, and this fund will support the travel trade to sell Britain, driving immediacy to visit and bookings. ADVERTISEMENT“Broadening travel itineraries to boost inbound visits across the shoulder seasons will also support local businesses, destinations and economies.”
Britain-based destination management companies and inbound tour operators who meet the qualifying eligibility criteria can apply for individual grant awards between £20,000 and £40,000 in one of the two application categories, relative to their 2019 financial turnover of sales of holiday packages to Britain.
Applicants have until January 13th to apply for activity to run from February to June 2022, key booking periods for the fund’s target markets.

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Dubai Holding has announced the appointment of Fernando Eiroa as the new chief executive of Dubai Holding Entertainment.
The body is a diversified global investment company with operations in thirteen countries.
The entertainment portfolio comprises the leading leisure attractions in Dubai, as well as media and entertainment platforms and venues such as Ain Dubai, Global Village, Dubai Parks & Resorts, ARN and Roxy Cinemas.
Eiroa brings nearly 20 years of experience in the experiential entertainment industry, having worked in the US, Europe and other international markets.
In his last role he was chief executive of CircusTrix, a developer, operator and franchisor of indoor active recreation centres with a network of more than 320 facilities worldwide. ADVERTISEMENTEiroa has also served as chief executive of Palace Entertainment, a major leisure park operator in the United States, and Parques Reunidos, leading the IPO of one of the largest global groups, operating more than 60 parks in 14 countries across all segments and regions.
As chief executive of Dubai Holding Entertainment, Eiroa will spearhead the business’s innovation strategy, the delivery of operational excellence, and ensure purpose-driven talent development with the aim of exceeding the highest levels of customer satisfaction throughout the company’s leading entertainment venues and attractions.
Eiroa said: “The breadth and diversity of entertainment experiences in Dubai is an inspiration for the industry worldwide.
“I am excited about the opportunity to contribute towards further enhancing the emirate’s rich recreational and leisure landscape, which draws millions of tourists each year.”
Dubai Holding Entertainment is one of the largest diversified entertainment groups in the region committed to solidifying Dubai as one of the most sought-after touristic destinations in the world.
It forms a strategic part of Dubai Holding as one of the four key market-leading companies of the group.

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