An association of the biggest online travel companies is to lobby the new Government to show the ‘critical benefits’ they provide to consumers and the UK economy.
The 11 members of Online Travel UK include Booking.com, Edreams ODIGEO, Expedia, Kiwi.com, lastminute.com, On the Beach and Travel Republic as well as Airbnb, Skyscanner and Trainline.
OTUK, which launched last year, shared its mission and key policy focus areas on a new website launched today.
It said it will ‘collaborate with government, policymakers and regulators to advocate for an innovative, competitive and consumer-centric travel and tourism industry’.
It intends to focus on consumer protection and choice and fair and competitive digital markets, it said.
In a statement, it added: “We have been engaging with a range of stakeholders across the political landscape over the past year, and are looking forward to working with MPs, newly appointed ministers and regulators on a range of policies and priorities for our members in the coming weeks and months.
“Learning from the pandemic, we now have the chance to update and modernise consumer protections for the sector.”
OTUK wants the Government to implement the UK’s new competition rules for digital markets ‘at speed’, which it said will increase consumer choice.
“The healthy competition and transparency that online travel companies provide drives innovation, value and quality across the sector – this is good for consumers and supports wider economic growth,” it added.
“By enabling digitisation and facilitating more constructive collaboration with transport and accommodation suppliers, both consumers and the UK economy will reap the rewards.”
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The 11 members of Online Travel UK include Booking.com, Edreams ODIGEO, Expedia, Kiwi.com, lastminute.com, On the Beach and Travel Republic as well as Airbnb, Skyscanner and Trainline.
OTUK, which launched last year, shared its mission and key policy focus areas on a new website launched today.
It said it will ‘collaborate with government, policymakers and regulators to advocate for an innovative, competitive and consumer-centric travel and tourism industry’.
It intends to focus on consumer protection and choice and fair and competitive digital markets, it said.
In a statement, it added: “We have been engaging with a range of stakeholders across the political landscape over the past year, and are looking forward to working with MPs, newly appointed ministers and regulators on a range of policies and priorities for our members in the coming weeks and months.
“Learning from the pandemic, we now have the chance to update and modernise consumer protections for the sector.”
OTUK wants the Government to implement the UK’s new competition rules for digital markets ‘at speed’, which it said will increase consumer choice.
“The healthy competition and transparency that online travel companies provide drives innovation, value and quality across the sector – this is good for consumers and supports wider economic growth,” it added.
“By enabling digitisation and facilitating more constructive collaboration with transport and accommodation suppliers, both consumers and the UK economy will reap the rewards.”
The post OTAs join forces to lobby Government appeared first on Travel Gossip.
Continue reading...
