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He said: “From its foundation, ABTA has had a central role in helping to maintain confidence at the heart of travel. Now, more than ever, that confidence is key to the sustainability and future prosperity of the travel industry.

“Whether providing operational support in times of crisis, building and maintaining consumer confidence, working with destinations to manage their social and ecological footprint, or taking our industry’s case to government, ABTA is there to help our Members build successful businesses.

“ABTA is engaged across a very wide range of issues, and is able to do this because of the reputation, trust and recognition that have been built over many years.

“Over that time our Members have built a great industry which has revolutionised the lives of millions of people – both in the UK and overseas – bringing real wealth and happiness.

“It has been a process of constant evolution – marked by successes – and some failures – as the industry has grown and developed, but throughout ABTA has been there to support its Members, protect customers and maintain standards.

“It has itself changed as an organisation, adapting to the changing needs of its Members and is now ready to play its distinctive role in taking the industry forward. It is very hard to predict the exact shape of our sector in future years – especially given the many uncertainties we now face - but the values of customer care and confidence will remain at its heart and ABTA will be there as an emblem of all that is good in travel, and as the brand of quality and trust.”

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.
Out of Hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager: 07659 190987
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.