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Luke Pollard, ABTA’s Head of Public Affairs said: “The run up to the election on 6 May provides an ideal opportunity to educate and influence parliamentary candidates. The general election will bring in a totally new batch of MPs and possibly a new government. It is vitally important that new and current Members of Parliament clearly understand the needs of travel and tourism, the fifth largest sector of the economy. Our industry’s concerns should be at the heart of government policy”

The Election Toolkit consists of:

• A step-by-step guide to contacting your local candidates
• A sample invitation letter to your local prospective parliamentary candidates (PPCs)
• A sample press release to invite the press to attend the visit of your candidates
• The ABTA Manifesto

Luke Pollard continues: “Whichever party wins the election will have to decide on ATOL reform, airport expansion, changes to the tax regime affecting aviation and businesses as well as addressing climate change and continuing the recovery.”

“If ABTA Members directly contact their parliamentary candidates now, they can make sure their MP has a full understanding of travel and tourism issues affecting their constituents.  We need to make our political representatives understand just how important travel and tourism is when bringing matters to the attention of the House of Commons and voting on issues which can profoundly affect our Members’ businesses.”

Lord Graham of Edmonton, who hosted the launch of ABTA’s manifesto, Travel Matters at the House of Lords in March said: “ABTA Members will find parliamentary candidates especially receptive to their views in the lead up to an election. It’s the perfect time to approach them.”

The ABTA Manifesto can be downloaded from www.abta.com

6 May 2010

For further information contact:
Sean Tipton, Senior Press Officer, tel: 020 3117 0513,
Frances Tuke, Public Relations Manager, tel: 020 3117 0514, Mobile 07850 712 325,
Casia Zajac, Head of Communications, tel: 020 3117 0515, Mobile: 07545 927 411
Out of Hours:  Contact the Duty Press Officer via pager: 07659 190 987
E-mail: press@abta.co.uk
Web: www.abta.com
 
Notes to Editors
ABTA – The Travel Association was founded in 1950 and currently has 1,351 members with 5,700 outlets. Members include travel agents, tour operators and support services right across the spectrum from small family-owned businesses to the largest tour operators. 

ABTA is the largest travel association in the UK and its members provide 90% of the foreign package holidays in the UK as well as selling millions of independent travel arrangements. 

In 2008 ABTA merged with the Federation of Tour Operators [FTO], thereby cementing its role as the leading travel association and increasing benefits for both ABTA and FTO members. Both the ABTA brand which is highly recognised by consumers and the FTO brand which is well known in destinations will be retained.

As part of its comprehensive package of services to members, ABTA, as a non-party political organisation works to represent the interests of its Members to government and key opinion formers in the UK and EU.