News Archive

• Air Passenger Duty is held as further increases have already been announced to take effect in November 2010. APD will thereafter rise by inflation on an annual basis.

• Government support for expansion at Heathrow was further supported by the Chancellor noting that the Government would continue to support improvements to the country’s transport infrastructure also through high-speed rail and Crossrail. 

• Banks with substantial public sector ownership will lend more to businesses in the coming year. £41 billion will be lent to small businesses. The majority of ABTA Members are small and medium sized enterprises. A Small Business Credit Adjudicator will also be created with statutory powers to enforce its judgements on bank lending decisions and a new service will ensure small businesses are treated fairly when applying for loans.

• A temporary increase in the level of small business rate relief

• An extension of Entrepreneurs’ Relief from the first £1 million to the first £2 million of gains made over a lifetime

• Providing better access to relevant tax guidance and flexible tax payment plans to help businesses manage their cash flow.

• Rules regarding Furnished Holiday Lettings will be repealed ignoring representations from ABTA and its members to reform the system.

Luke Pollard, ABTA Head of Public Affairs said: “This budget is largely as expected. There are no big headline rises in taxes for the sector, while there is support for businesses. However, whichever government is elected after 6 May will need to tackle deficit, which is likely to mean a combination of public sector cuts and increased taxation still to come.

“As a sector we now need to remain focussed on our Manifesto asks in this area. We want a reform of Air Passenger Duty to a per-plane basis more closely aligned to distance travelled and the efficiency of the aircraft; and reform in consumer financial protection. We will lobby strongly against rises that seek to disproportionately burden our sector with additional taxes.”

Daryl Nurthen, ABTA Business Support Manager said: “It would appear businesses could be assisted from this budget. We will investigate what these benefits could be and make sure we provide as much detail as we can so that our Members can access them.”

See Luke Pollard’s comments on ABTA’s webcast:  http://www.abta.com/about/lobbying_and_government_affairs

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 have been 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.