ABTA - The Travel Association

ABTA, the British association of travel agencies and tour operators

ABTA presents itself as the leading association of travel agencies and tour operators, with work focused on expert advice, guidance, protection and help with resolving travel complaints. Its activity combines support for industry professionals with consumer information and advocacy.

Advice and traveller protection services

The organisation offers travellers guidance resources on many aspects of planning and taking a trip. Topics covered include travelling with confidence, taking out travel insurance, preparing passports and visas, the use of airport scanners and drawing up checklists before travelling. It also addresses changes for travel to Europe, the UK’s ETA scheme and the benefits of booking a package holiday.

The information is organised around different stages of the trip: booking and pre-departure preparation, the journey, the stay at the destination and useful links. It includes tips on booking early, avoiding travel-related fraud, having a trouble-free airport experience, taking a gap year, medication and vaccinations, travel money, local laws and customs, solo travellers, burglary prevention while on holiday and weddings and honeymoons abroad.

Travel safety and health

ABTA publishes specific recommendations on safety and health, such as safe and healthy holidays in the sun, winter sports safety, swim safety, safety and security when abroad, villa safety and security, quad bike and moped safety and balcony safety. It also covers Hajj fraud and the consequences of Brexit for travel to Europe.

Complaint and dispute resolution

The association has a complaints help service that explains how to register a dispute, which disputes it can and cannot help with, and how to proceed before and after travel. It offers information on resolving disputes, registering a complaint, problems raising a complaint or following up once it has been registered, holiday complaint FAQs and ferry complaints. It also provides information on travel company failures.

Membership and industry support

ABTA has an industry zone that includes becoming a member, membership costs and requirements, the benefits of belonging to the association and the procedure for non-UK companies applying for membership. It also offers testimonials, approved bond and insurance providers, and a partner programme with information specifically for partners.

In the area of policy and regulation, the organisation takes part in the Future Travel Coalition and publishes reports and publications. It has education and career development resources, such as careers in travel, education partners, ABTA regional student representatives, apprenticeships in the travel industry, online learning and a tourism education and skills working group.

Publications, sustainability and animal welfare

Its reports and publications include International Travel 2026: Powering the UK economy, Travel Law Today, the ABTA Trends Reports and ABTA Holiday Habits Reports, Outbound travel - a catalyst for jobs, growth and wellbeing, A Manifesto for Travel and Tourism, Unlocking Travel’s Potential: The importance of UK-EU mobility for jobs and growth, International Travel 2025 – powering the UK economy, The Climate Action Guidebook, Tourism for Good, Travelling Together - The value of UK outbound tourism to Europe, Securing the future, Value Tourism Driving Growth: The economic value of outbound travel, Making a success of Brexit for travel and tourism, What Brexit might mean for UK travel, A manifesto for jobs and growth in tourism, Tourism and aviation, Understanding the travel and tourism labour market, Brexit – getting it right for the traveller and Pre-notification guidance for supporting passengers with a disability or reduced mobility.

The association also sells technical publications and guides, such as Tourism Accommodation: Health & Safety Technical Guide, Land Transportation Guide, Sustainability training, Contacting our Members, ABTA Animal Welfare Guidelines, Managing plastics: guidance for travel companies, ABTA Modern Slavery Guidelines: Tackling modern slavery in tourism, Volunteer Tourism Guidelines, Every child, everywhere child safeguarding training tool and Accessible tourism training – understanding customer needs.

On sustainability, it addresses decarbonisation in the travel and tourism sector, how tourism is tackling climate change, the impact on destinations and communities, human rights, orphanage tourism and animal welfare, with FAQs, activities involving animals, ABTA’s work on animal welfare and dolphins and improving the welfare of elephants in tourism. It includes the Travelife for Accommodation – Stay Better initiative and tips for travellers.

Events and training

ABTA organises events and training activities, including upcoming events and training, information about its events, ABTA conferences and events, FAQs, sponsorship, the ABTA Engagement Programme, The Travel Convention and its presence at World Travel Market.