A former tourism minister has said he is confident the travel industry will not be punished heavily by further taxation following the election – whoever is in charge.

Speaking at the launch of the Abta manifesto, which the association is delivering to all the main political parties, Labour MP Dr Kim Howells told TTG he thought Abta had made a powerful point in highlighting the 2.65 million people employed directly by the sector.

Howells, whose remit included tourism, film and music when he was a minister at the Department for Culture, Media & Sport early in the last decade, added: “The sector can’t ask for special favours. It has to say that the travel industry is as potent a creator of jobs as any other sector – and Abta has done that with this manifesto.

“Any chancellor should see this industry as a great potential source of revenue for this country, and not just in terms of taxation. Some of the best civil servants in the country work for the Treasury, and I’m sure they are listening.”

Chief executive Mark Tanzer said the association had pulled together the document following consultation across its membership.

Speaking at the House of Lords reception, Tanzer said: “I urge any future government – join with us. Abta and our members are ready to work with you and your officials to build on the success of the industry – and to put travel matters where they belong, at the heart of the UK economy.”

Launching the manifesto Norman Fowler, a non-executive Abta board member, said: “I hope the parties give this manifesto their closest attention.”

Abta is demanding that a new government:
• reforms consumer protection for holidays, flights and accommodation to ensure that all the travelling public are protected
• reforms Air Passenger Duty to incentivise planes to fly full with a fair tax contribution based on efficiency of aircraft, not on a per-passenger basis
• safeguards jobs in the tourism sector by removing barriers to doing business successfully
• increases airport capacity across the UK but especially in the south-east of England to meet current and future needs
• creates a dedicated Minister of Tourism.