ABTA has welcomed the Tourism Regulation Taskforce’s report “Smart Regulation and Economic Growth – Seizing the Tourism Opportunity” released yesterday, which has endorsed all of the proposals put forward by ABTA recommending the scrapping of unnecessary bureaucracy impacting UK travel businesses.

Last year ABTA set up its own Red Tape Taskforce inviting feedback from Members about the biggest areas of unnecessary bureaucracy burdening their businesses.  ABTA proposed a number of key areas for action, including the removal of travel insurance sales from FSA regulation and the adoption of a sensible approach to the implementation of money laundering laws impacting on Members selling foreign currency. Today’s report, which has been put forward to tourism minister John Penrose, has endorsed these recommendations.

Mark Tanzer ABTA Chief Executive said: “We strongly support the Tourism Minister’s drive to cut red tape in tourism.  We call on him now to accept these sensible recommendations and ensure that the Government takes concrete steps to stamp out these unnecessary and bureaucratic rules. All of our Red Tape Taskforce proposals will make a very real difference to our Members businesses but in particular, the removal of travel insurance sales from FSA regulation, would improve customer choice and ensure that more consumers travel insured. ”

Christine Farnish, ABTA Board Member of Chair of ABTA’s Red Tape Taskforce said: “In commissioning this report Tourism Minister John Penrose has indicated he is committed to helping the travel and tourism sector develop and grow. Accepting these recommendations to scrap restrictive and unnecessary red tape will bring some very real benefits to UK businesses and provide the clearest possible indication that he is listening to our concerns and is willing and prepared to take positive action to address them.”