Travel bosses lobby government to secure UK-EU youth mobility scheme

More than 60 travel industry leaders have written to Nick Thomas-Symonds – the minister for EU relations – urging him to pursue youth mobility arrangements between the UK and EU as part of talks to reset the UK’s relationship with the bloc.

 

The government has announced that a UK-EU summit will take place on May 19 in London and a youth mobility visa is likely to be on the agenda.

 

Travel bosses argue such a scheme would help to remove some of the cost and red tape on businesses who are looking to employ UK staff in the EU, and vice versa, and would reopen the industry’s talent pipeline.

 

Signatories to the letter include Tui, Jet2, Dertour UK, Abta, Tourism Alliance, UK Hospitality, UKinbound and SBiT.

 

Abta and Tourism Alliance – the two trade bodies behind the letter – say employing UK staff abroad has been an “operational and expensive nightmare” for travel businesses since the UK left the EU.

 

Many outbound travel businesses have had to alter the holidays they sell to customers or change the service they provide, because they aren’t able to get the UK staff they need.

 

Similarly, inbound tourism has struggled to get EU workers filling important roles in the UK.

 

Travel and tourism is worth more than £165 billion in annual GVA [gross value added] to the economy and support more than than million jobs across the country.

 

Before the UK left the EU, it was much easier for UK staff to work in destinations as ski chalet hosts, resort reps and tour guides.

 

Research by Abta and Seasonal Businesses in Travel (SBiT) shows overseas travel roles have fallen by 69% since the UK’s departure from the EU, and travel companies have had to navigate local employment rules in each country, where they exist, to try to get staff overseas.

 

The letter from travel industry leaders follows reports that the Chancellor sees the scheme as supporting the UK’s growth agenda, and more than Labour 70 MPs and peers wrote to the government to express their support for a UK-EU youth mobility scheme.

 

Mark Tanzer, Abta chief executive, said: “A youth mobility arrangement with the EU would be a win-win for the UK.

 

“A government focused on driving growth needs to pull those levers that will make it happen – a youth mobility deal is one of them.

 

“Abta research shows international travel to and from the UK could be set to grow strongly in the coming years – with the potential for inbound to grow by 20% and outbound by 15% by 2034.

 

“It also means we’re offering important opportunities for young people – skills and experiences that can help start and define their careers.”

 

Richard Toomer, executive director of the Tourism Alliance, added: “Youth mobility gives young people valuable opportunity to travel and experience life in other countries and cultures. Allowing EU and UK residents to take advantage of this scheme would be enormously welcomed by many who will go on to have fulfilling careers in travel and tourism, but also in many cases a life-long appreciation and affection for their host country.

 

“Concluding a YMS deal with the EU should just be one part of a broader move to break down some of the unnecessary barriers to travel that have gone up since Brexit. Sadly, travelling between the two jurisdictions has become more costly, bureaucratic and time-consuming. An EU-UK reset should aim to tackle that too.”

 

Luke Petherbridge, Abta’s public affairs director, commented: “We’ve been talking to governments – past and present – since 2016 about the need for a UK-EU youth mobility arrangement.

 

“The recent positive noises from ministers and MPs show it’s important to be persistent – this is what effective lobbying is about.

 

“Obviously, there is still a long way to go, with the renegotiations only just starting in a few weeks’ time, but it’s encouraging that sentiment in the UK is shifting in our favour.”

 

Pictured: tour guide with group of tourists in Barcelona by funkyfrogstock/Shutterstock