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Updated: Save Future Travel petition set to trigger government response

The government will be obliged to react to industry demands to outline a plan for the coronavirus-ravaged travel sector as signatories to the Save Future Travel petition soared in 24 hours.

The petition hit more than 10,000 signatures today to trigger a government response.

The number of supporters of the call for ministers to outline a plan to support and save the UK travel industry rose from 6,500 on Wednesday morning and 1,500 on Tuesday.

The increased backing came as the government confirmed the creation of a Global Travel Taskforce to work with the industry on options for Covid testing to cut 14-day quarantine restrictions for international arrivals.

However, the petition needs to be signed by 100,000 people to ensure it is considered for a debate in Parliament.

Trade bodies involved in the group are appealing to travel industry professionals to sign the petition, which calls for a fully-regionalised quarantine policy, the introduction of Covid-19 testing at airports, and a review of the chancellor’s Job Support Scheme

The coalition’s petition also wants to see grants for small and medium-sized businesses in the sector, help for those that missed out on previous state support during the Covid-19 crisis and Air Passenger Duty relief for summer 2021.

It warns that chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Winter Economy Plan does not do enough to support travel firms and save jobs at a time when measures to control the virus have dented confidence in travel and delayed recovery.

The petition was created by Abta public affairs director Luke Petherbridge with backing from industry groups including Advantage Travel Partnership, Aito, Atas, the Business Travel Association, Clia, Seasonal Businesses in Travel, Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association and The Travel Network Group.

They are also urging travel companies to lobby individual MPs to highlight the need for specific support for the travel sector.

To sign the petition click here.

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