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UK Travel Industry Calls for Renewed EU Youth Mobility Deal to Boost Tourism Sector – Image Credit ABTA
- Key Support for EU Youth Mobility: 76% of Brits back a deal enabling young people to work and study in the EU, highlighting broad public support across political lines.
- Economic Impact on the Travel Industry: The travel sector, which contributes over £52 billion annually to the UK economy, relies heavily on young workers gaining experience abroad.
ABTA – The Travel Association and Seasonal Businesses in Travel (SBiT) are urging the UK government to prioritize negotiations with the EU to secure a youth mobility deal. This comes after new research shows overwhelming public support for such an agreement, which would allow young people to work, live, and study in the EU temporarily.
A survey conducted by ABTA and YouGov reveals that 76% of British respondents support a deal to facilitate youth mobility with the EU. This sentiment spans across all voter demographics, including 61% of those who voted to leave the EU in 2016. The travel industry, which contributes over £52 billion to the UK economy annually, is closely tied to these mobility opportunities, as many workers begin their careers in temporary overseas roles.
The survey highlights a significant decline in opportunities for young UK nationals in tourism roles since Brexit, with a 69% drop in positions such as travel representatives. ABTA and SBiT emphasize that restoring these opportunities is crucial for the growth and success of the UK’s outbound travel sector, which sees two-thirds of its holidays taken within the EU.
Luke Petherbridge, ABTA’s Director of Public Affairs, noted the importance of the UK-EU deal reached in May and stressed the need for further progress. He pointed out that changes such as the enhanced use of e-gates and restoring youth work opportunities are vital for the industry’s future.
Charles Owen, Managing Director at SBiT, echoed these sentiments, urging the government to expedite a comprehensive UK-EU agreement to provide certainty and stability for the travel industry. The associations are also calling for continued cooperation to address upcoming changes to border arrangements, ensuring minimal disruption for travelers.
The push for a youth mobility deal is part of a broader effort to strengthen UK-EU relations, with 66% of survey respondents believing that closer ties would benefit the UK economy. As the travel industry navigates post-Brexit challenges, securing such agreements remains a top priority for industry leaders.
