INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TOURISM, TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY LAW • Overseas residents made 40.9 million visits to the UK, an increase of 0.6 million compared with 2018. • Overseas residents spent £28.4 billion on visits to the UK, an increase of 7% compared with 2018. • There were 93.1 million visits overseas by UK residents, an increase of 3% compared with 2018. • UK residents spent £62.3 billion on visits overseas, an increase of 7% compared with 2018. By contrast, in 20212, a year affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the measures taken to contain it: • Overseas residents made 6.4 million visits to the UK; this was 43% less than in 2020 as travel continued to be reduced because of the pandemic. • Overseas residents spent £5.6 billion on their visits to the UK; this was 9% less than in 2020. • UK residents made 19.1 million visits abroad, which was 20% less than the previous year and was because of the continued travel restrictions. • UK residents spent £15.5 billion on visits abroad; this was a 13% increase on 2020. It is in this context, of a highly profitable industry hit by a highly unusual catastrophic event, that the current relationship between airlines and travel agents and tour operators must be seen. In some quarters the relationship appears to be breaking down; the chief executive of one large UK tour operator has recently described the airline industry as being ‘despicable’ in its treatment of consumers, which, he said, has affected the way the entire travel industry is seen3. He went on to say: “…The way the airline industry has acted in the last three years is nothing short of despicable…Throughout the pandemic customers got treated really badly...” Against this background, there is ongoing litigation between one airline in particular and a number of online travel agencies which raises some intriguing questions around where the balance of power lies in the industry; and who bears responsibility to consumers when things go wrong. 2 Travel trends – Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk) 3 Jet2 boss says ‘despicable’ airline sector tarnished industry’s image | Travel Weekly
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