It took just one short email for World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvil’s Azerbaijani chief of staff to destroy three years of hard work and expectation by Louis D’Amore, known as the man behind Peace Through Tourism. D’Amore is the founder and president of the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPT). IIPT is recognized and highly respected worldwide.

It took this short email in March to step on the role, legacy, and work of former UNWTO Secretary General Dr. Taleb Rifai. Rifai was an outspoken supporter of Louis D’Amore and peace through tourism.  Dr. Taleb Rifai joined IIPT as the head of their advisory committee.

The email by the UNWTO chief of staff simply said: “UNWTO decided to no longer have a part in the IIPT – UNWTO summit planned for August in Montreal, Canada.”

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvil personally did not contact Louis D’Amore or was available for a discussion.

There was no further explanation given. Dr. Rifai made sure when he left UNWTO the cooperation with IIPT was on solid ground. A former executive director trusted to work with IIPT on the Summit was terminated from UNWTO on December 31, 2017.

Today IIPT issued the following statement:

“IIPT was advised in early 2018 that UNWTO would continue to be involved in the Summit as originally planned.  However, we learned in mid-March that UNWTO would not be involved. Subsequently, the major source of funding anticipated for the Summit did not materialize. We are, therefore, unfortunately, having to cancel the summit.

We sincerely regret any inconvenience this may cause.

IIPT was very much looking forward to its 30th-anniversary‘ family reunion’ – and our best conference since Vancouver 1988  that first introduced the concept of Sustainable Tourism and launched the “Peace through Tourism Movement” with 800 delegates from 68 countries whose feedback stated, “it was the best conference they had ever attended.”

We look forward to our continued collaboration and our commitment to making travel and tourism “the world’s first global peace industry” and the belief that every traveler is potentially an ambassador for peace.”                       

Peace through Tourism is the brand developed after Louis D’Amore concluded the world’s first comprehensive study on the future of tourism in 1976.  Louis D’Amore is known as the man of peace.

Last year the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPT) under the leadership of its founder and president Lous D’Amore announced: “IIPT is proud to be returning to Montreal, where IIPT was born in 1986 during the UN International Year of Peace, with a vision of travel and tourism becoming the world’s first “Global Peace Industry” and the belief that every traveler is potentially an “Ambassador for Peace.”

D’Amore was proud to partner with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) under the leadership of then Secretary-General Taleb Rifai when he announced the Montreal summit to take place in September 2017 after the conclusion of the UNWTO General Assembly in Chengdu, China. UNWTO Secretary General Dr. Taleb Rifai was set to be the keynote speaker.

It was a disappointment for IIPT when the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) 22nd General Assembly scheduled to be held in Chengdu, China, had been rescheduled by its Chinese hosts.China decided to move the dates of the General Assembly forward in September so that it now ends on September 16, just prior to the planned NWTO-IIPT Global Summit in Montreal on September 17-21.

This was making it very difficult for most the featured speakers scheduled for September 18 and 19 – the days of the “Official Conference of the UN International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development” – to arrive in Montreal in time for their scheduled participation.

Following consultation with Dr. Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Secretary-General it was decided to re-schedule the UNWTO-IIPT Global Summit. It was re-scheduled for  August 27-30 2018.

Louis D’Amore was successful in building a “Coalition of Partners for World Peace through” Tourism with more than 30 prestigious international organizations – all committed to a ‘Millennium Project” that contributes to the vision of tourism as a global peace industry. As well, IIPT has several active chapters and international networks including an Educators, Community Tourism, Cultural Tourism, Spirituality in Tourism and an International Student/Youth Leadership Network.

D’Amore has been instrumental in promoting the travel and tourism industry as the world’s first “Global Peace Industry” since the founding of IIPT in 1986.

Mr. D’Amore has been a pioneer in promoting a social and environmental ethic within the travel and tourism industry since the mid-70’s. In 1992, following the U.N. Conference on Environment and Development (Rio Summit), he developed the world’s first Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Sustainable Tourism for the Canadian tourism industry.

The UNWTO – IIPT Global Summit was commemorated IIPT’s 30th anniversary year since its First Global Conference. The Global Summit planned to maintain its original theme while also giving a new emphasis as 2018 is the China – Canada Year of Tourism, and China – Europe Year of Tourism

IIPT Founder and President, Louis D’Amore used the occasion of the UNWTO  Conference in Jamaica in November to announce the new dates for the Global Summit named:  Sustainable Tourism for  Development and Peace. The summit was to be co-organized by the UN World Tourism Organization and the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT). 

No one at UNWTO was available for comments.

Dr. Walter Mzembi was known as one of the longest-serving tourism ministers in the world and competed for the post of UNWTO Secretary-General in 2017. Dr. Mzembi was appointed Foreign Minister for Zimbabwe for a short time before his government was overturned by a military take-over on November 17, 2017. Dr. Mzembi, recently diagnosed with an urgent health issue, was admitted to a South African hospital last week for immediate major surgery.

A week after the surgery Dr. Walter Mzembi from his hospital bed issued this statement and open appeal to the President of Zimbabwe Dr. E.D Mnangagwa  He is asking the president for constitutional protection of his rights to privacy in sickness and recuperation.

This is the unedited transcript of Dr. Mzembi’s public appeal:

This public appeal and  update has become necessary after the   State decided to make my medical condition and records a matter of public record even after pleading for discretion and confidentiality as is best practice internationally. It is also prompted by screaming headlines in most of today’s tabloids, that suggests that I was issued with a warrant of arrest after violating my bail conditions, etc. Let me state upfront that I am the least worried about a warrant of arrest at this stage, whatever prompts the State to behave in this manner. What is most important for me and my family for now, is my recovery, my health and my life, and I will at an appropriate time defend myself from the spurious politically motivated charges that have been raised against me. Indeed ” there is nothing special about Mzembi”, that he cannot be tried , and so be it when I am fit to stand trial I will make myself available and I want to thank notwithstanding the manner in which my last plea was heard, the issuing of an Administrative Warrant of Arrest, which says I shall make myself available only when I am fit, and at the time I will take the stand and explain my absence. This should be nothing newsworthy in a normal society, only in Zimbabwe do people find interest in such matters!

My lawyer, was pressured and directed by the presiding magistrate on the instigation of the public prosecutor, to give graphic details of my state of health in order to avert a warrant of arrest even as I was being simultaneously operated on in South Africa. My surgery took a gruesome four hours, running simultaneously with an attempt to issue a warrant of arrest on me by the State. I was wheeled into the ICU, with the conscious and full knowledge of the State’s intentions and could not help but feel sorry for my wife and son who stood by urging me to forget the persecution and focus on the life-saving operation at hand.

I had previously secured  State Consent and endorsement of another Magistrate to travel to South Africa for the Surgery. She had in a  previous hearing conducted my initial application in camera,  but alas her successor would not have it, she wanted it in public, the Newsday cashed on it and headlined my tragic circumstances in a story headlined and front paged ” Mzembi critically ill and in ICU”.

Today a week later the same story has more drama and lies been recycled by a number of tabloids.   I had not shared my condition so graphically described by the Newsday in its opportunistic story with my children for obvious reasons. Two of them were writing examinations in Harare, and I didn’t think it was prudent to psychologically disturb them.

They heard it from the Newsday, including my two daughters in London, and a son in Zambia. My siblings too were taken aback, by this degree of recklessness and insensitivity of the State over an individual’s health. I still have many friends locally and abroad, they too were in a state of disbelief on the degree of the callousness of our court and justice system, so were the specialists in South Africa who eventually attended to me. I don’t wish this treatment to anyone and I just wonder how we can hate each other to this extent, where we throw basic ubuntu and human ethos through the window!

The medical authorities in South Africa were not ready to expressly take me in as they had to do their own confirmation tests on my condition which took another week, and  I was booked one Thursday later which coincided with the expiry of my special dispensation to seek medical attention. The State prosecutor was kept abreast agreeing with my lawyer that there would be no problem in extending my continued possession of the passport indefinitely until I was fit to stand the rigors of remand hearings or trial, only to somersault in Court demanding my immediate warrant of arrest.

I have watched his performance in several of my remand hearings, he loves drama and antics and even in this very sensitive matter he couldn’t be persuaded to a private hearing preferring to spill all my confidential medical records in an open court. Such lack of trust, sympathy, compassion, and goodwill even in such special circumstances has left me completely convinced that the State cannot guarantee my recovery let alone a fair trial in such a toxic environment. The State is seemingly persecuting not prosecuting me and every day I am psychologically battered with negative press whose source is the State and its workers. How can I haunt it to this extend even from a hospital bed?

I have repeatedly reassured the ruling Party Zanu PF, it’s President Dr. Emmerson Mnangagwa, former and current Cabinet Colleagues that I have taken a sabbatical from politics and will now concentrate on my business and corporate life. I have not set foot in my former Constituency, Masvingo South since October 2017! I can assure the President this is one Constituency where am most loved and can win it from my hospital bed without campaigning, just my mere presence on the ballot paper would do it! They cry day and night for my comeback, but I have stuck to my guns and principle of a sabbatical.

I am not active or organizing politically against him or Zanu PF or for any of the 122 registered political parties to date,  but I am not deaf too, to false, fake and contrived intelligence reaching the desk of the Chief Executive of Zimbabwe and other authorities, to further drive a wedge between us. The President is in possession of a letter I wrote him sometime in late January explaining the conspiracy of three or four characters against me, and the personal abuse of ZAAC by one of its Directors against me as he settles old scores in collaboration with my former subordinates and colleagues in Government.

You would be aware that we are currently locked in a multimillion-dollar lawsuit arising out of his unprofessional conduct towards me.  The abuse of State institutions is happening at this middle management level as former subordinates attempt to settle personal scores, and this includes media besmirching of my reputation, which to date I have opted not to respond to, including today ‘s sponsored articles. I embargoed the contents of this letter out of respect for the Head of State, but I may in the fullness of time declassify it to assist the public in understanding why I have been subjected to so much abuse and persecution in the last half year, that is if it matters at all.

That notwithstanding I have and still renew the assurances of my highest consideration for the office of Head of State and Government, and President of Zanu PF, my party of birth. I am fully conscious that this is not my political season and am equally not in a hurry to find relevance in the current political space.  My family and I do not desire to be mixed up in any of the goings on in Zimbabwe’s political landscape and I am hoping my constitutional rights for privacy and wishes for a civil nonpartisan life will be respected and reciprocated, especially my recuperation from such delicate surgery and post b treatment.

God bless and heal Zimbabwe.

UNWTO released this report  of the Secretary-General Part I: Current situation and activities (b) Management vision and priorities

The 108th Executive council will come in San Sebastián, Spain, 23-25 May 2018 to decide about the following items

INTRODUCTION

The sustained growth of tourism over the last decades bring immense opportunities for socioeconomic welfare, poverty alleviation and the overall advancement of the 17 Goals of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

2. Tourism explicitly features as a target in three of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Goals 8, 12 and 14 on inclusive and sustainable economic growth, jobs, sustainable consumption and production (SCP), and the sustainable use of oceans and marine resources, respectively. Yet, given the sheer size, crosscutting nature and links with other sectors along its vast value chain, tourism has the potential to contribute—directly and indirectly—to all 17 SDGs.

3. This framework is reflected in the results of the UNWTO Members Survey for the 2018-2019 Programme of Work which fully converge with the scope of the 2030 Agenda in placing tourism at the forefront of development.

4. As we move towards a future guided by the universal 17 SDGs, a strong focus will be placed on building partnerships with the public and private sector, fostering jobs and opportunities for all, advancing technology and innovation and addressing sustainability and the fight against climate change.

II. Management vision Tourism – a key sector for the 2030 Agenda CE/108/5(b) World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) – A Specialized Agency of the United Nations Capitán Haya 42, 28020 Madrid, Spain. Tel.: (34) 91 567 81 00 / Fax: (34) 91 571 37 33 – [email protected] / unwto.org 2 5. In 2017, international tourist arrivals grew by 7% reaching 1,322 million. 2017 was the eighth consecutive year of sustained growth following the 2009 global economic and financial crisis.

No comparable sequence of uninterrupted solid growth has been recorded since the 1960s.

6. Tourism is an important driver of economic growth and development, with significant impact on job creation, investment, development of infrastructure, and the promotion of social inclusion. As one of the world’s key sectors of trade in services and the third bigger export-earning category, after fuels and chemicals in 2016, the sector is a vital pillar for national export strategies and economic diversification.

7. The value, growth and resilience of tourism to external shocks over the past decades testify to the capacity of the sector to play a decisive role in the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.

8. As an organization that represents such an important global socioeconomic sector, we need to work closer together to ensure that tourism contributes to a better future for all, leaving no one behind.

9. With the above in mind, the below will guide the objectives of our management vision:

Position tourism as a policy priority

10. Ensuring that the tourism sector is a major force for sustainable development requires a holistic and integrated policy framework and an effective and accountable system of governance that enable and encourage multi-stakeholder collaboration in tourism planning, development and management. This entails strengthening policies and governance structures to ensure a resilient and well-defined framework and implementation of sustainable tourism development strategies.

11. The shift from commitment to actions and results can only be achieved if tourism moves from the periphery to the core of decision-making in both the public and private domains allowing for a truly national, cross-cutting approach to the sector.

12. In that sense, we propose:

(a) To advocate for the inclusion of tourism as a priority in national, regional and international agendas; (b) To promote cross-cutting government coordination for tourism development; and

(c) To build better policies and institutions.

Lead in knowledge creation and policy

13. UNWTO’s main role is to guide the development of appropriate tourism polices that make it possible to maximize the socioeconomic value of the sector and minimize its possible negative effects. Doing so requires robust and comprehensive knowledge about tourism flows and trends, and the impact of the sector on the economy, the society and the environment.

14. To that end, we propose:

(a) To develop international standards, policy recommendations and guidelines;

(b) To carry out market research on programmatic priority areas;

(c) To advance national capacity to compile tourism data and its comparability; and CE/108/5(b)

(d) To exchange good practices on tourism policies.

Build better value for Members and expand membership

15. Addressing the needs of the Members and expanding membership are key features of our management vision. This entails strengthening the dialogue with our Members as well as prospective Members while reinforcing the capacity of the Organization to deliver.

16. Inclusive growth is a policy imperative in not only in developing countries, but also in the world’s richest nations. We need to create a new and strategic approach to lead in knowledge creation and capacity building, supported by efficient resource mobilization. New important work streams and areas of work should focus on innovation, the digital economy, smart destinations, investment and SMEs uptake. A change of mindset is required to mainstream our work, increase our competence and to fully benefit from the new tourism business models. Our action will thus be focused on:

(a) Responding to Members’ needs and offering fit-for-purpose services;

(b) Strengthening technical expertise to deliver more and better services to the Members and support the mainstreaming of tourism in their national agendas;

(c) Encouraging the sharing of good practices in tourism policies; and

(d) Attracting new Member States.

Increase resources and strengthen UNWTO’s capacity through partnerships

17. We need to explore new and innovative ways to increase our regular budget and extra budgetary resources. To accomplish this objective, it is necessary to better equip the Organization and Members with tools and knowledge on fundraising.

18. The growing recognition of tourism’s important contribution to sustainable development— including its mention in the SDGs—offers new opportunities for increased Official Development Assistance (ODA) to the sector. The OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) recently included UNWTO in the DAC list, recognizing its development function. Member States can now report their voluntary contributions and fees to UNWTO as ODA. However, tourism only accounted for a mere 0.14% of total ODA between 2011 and 2015.

19. In order to make real strides in the delivery of development cooperation, it is also essential that tourism policymakers, together with the Secretariat, fully engage with the development mechanisms at the country level, such as the participation in the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) System at the country level, as well as at the global level.

20. To this end, we propose: (a) To increase resource mobilization efforts and international public finance for tourism, including through ODA, Aid for Trade (AfT) and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). (b) To build strategic partnerships to leverage more resources—both financial and nonfinancial (skills and competences).

To ensure the financial sustainability of the Organization in terms of the regular budget through close collaboration with the Member States, increased voluntary contributions and rigorous budget control. (d) To expand partnerships with the private sector and academia to enhance the technical and financial capacity of the Organization to deliver. III.

Programmatic priorities

21. In line with the Programme of Work for 2018-2019 approved by the UNWTO General Assembly at its 22nd session and the vision expressed above, the management proposes to focus on the following priorities in the period 2018-2019.

22. Make tourism smarter:

innovation and the digital transformation

(a) Advance smart destinations through the development of knowledge, recommendations and sharing of good practices.

](b) Support start-up projects from around the world in order to showcase and learn about the most creative ideas and projects from all over the world.

(c) Create regional tourism innovation centres.

(d) Foster innovation in product development and marketing.

(e) Develop partnerships with technology providers to create and share knowledge and set policy guidelines considering current technology advances and new business models.

23. Grow our competitive edge:

investments and entrepreneurship

(a) Develop knowledge on investment in tourism.

(b) Foster the creation of business environment that is conducive to stimulating entrepreneurship and SMEs in tourism and other sectors along the tourism value chain.

(c) Establish an Annual Global Tourism Investment Forum.

(d) Support Member States in attracting investments through, among others, the promotion of specific tourism lines within existing funding institutions.

24. Create more and better jobs:

education and employment

(a) Create a UNWTO Academy and international centres to improve skills, education and specialized training programmes.

(b) Strengthen Members’ capacity in tourism education.

(c) Support Members in the development of frameworks and policies that enable job creation.

(d) Advance research on the impact of tourism on jobs and the future of work in the sector.

(e) Promote talent development and the image of employment in tourism.

25. Build resilience and facilitate travel:

safe, secure and seamless travel

(a) Enhance Members’ resilience through crisis preparedness and communication.

(b) Strengthen cooperation with international transport organizations to carry out research and support Members to increase connectivity.

(c) Advance research and advocacy on travel facilitation and promote Members’ progress in this area. Priority 5

26. Protect our heritage: social, cultural and environmental sustainability

(a) Advance the measurement of tourism economic, social and environmental impacts through the Measuring Sustainable Tourism Initiative (MST) and UNWTO’s International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO).

(b) Advance sustainable consumption and production in the tourism sector, notably through the One Planet Tourism network.

(c) Support Members in tourism congestion management in urban destinations and cultural and environmental sites.

(d) Evaluate the impact of tourism on climate change and set recommendations on how to adapt and mitigate. (

e) Support the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics, emphasizing the social dimensions of tourism—accessibility, inclusive tourism, gender equality, and child protection—and advance the UNWTO Convention on Tourism Ethics. IV.

Organizational structure Management and structure

27. The Secretary-General has decided to make some adjustments to the current structure in order to effectively support the priorities as presented above and optimize the efficiency of the Organization. 28. In accordance with the structure foreseen in the legal framework of the Organization, the Secretary-General has also decided to appoint Mr. Jaime Alberto Cabal Sanclemente (Colombia), as Deputy Secretary-General from 1 June 2018 to 31 December 2021, to support him in guiding the Organization in this new era. In accordance with Staff Regulation 15 (b), the Secretary-General kindly requests the approval of the Executive Council. CE/108/5(b) World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) –

29. Further, in order to ensure continuity in the Management of the Organization, the SecretaryGeneral wishes to inform the members of the Executive Council of the appointment of Mr. Zhu Shanzhong (China) on 1 January 2018 as Executive Director for a period of two years.

30. The Secretary-General has also decided to invite to his cabinet Mr. Manuel Butler (Spain) as Executive Director for a period of two years starting 1 May 2018.

Strengthening internal governance

31. In order to fulfil his oversight responsibilities in respect of the resources and staff of the Organization in accordance with UNWTO Internal Oversight Charter (as endorsed by the Executive Council through decision 5(LXXXVIII)) and with the aim of ensuring the responsible and efficient administration of resources, as well as a culture of accountability and transparency, the SecretaryGeneral has conducted a review of the internal control systems in relation to strategic activities of the Organization.

32. Pursuant to a competitive procurement process among international firms with previous experience in providing similar consultancy services with the United Nations, the selected company, KPMG, has submitted a comprehensive report to the Secretary-General with recommendations on concrete actions to be taken in order to establish an appropriate Governance, Risk and Compliance model in a cost-efficient and timely manner.

33. The Secretary-General will further analyse these recommendations, taking into account the financial constraints of the Organization and previous relevant decisions taken by the Governing Bodies and will report to the next session of the Executive Council on any actions taken and a roadmap for implementation.

34. The soundness of internal control mechanisms is not only an essential pillar to the rigorous budget control and ethical culture of all UN Organizations but is also essential to attract new Donors that are increasingly demanding assurances on the governance, risk management and control processes and reporting of the Organizations to which they seek to entrust funds.

The way forward: UNWTO Strategic Plan Towards 2030

35. As the world set a new universal agenda for sustainable development, UNWTO and its Members have the opportunity to shape the tourism agenda for the next 10 years.

36. In a collaborative effort between the Secretariat and its Members, the new UNWTO Strategic Plan Towards 2030 should fully integrate the specificities of our sector, a rapidly changing business model, new world emerging challenges and the United Nations Reform. It should carefully set an agenda to mitigate global challenges and provide a roadmap for the Secretariat and all stakeholders on how working together we can make tourism smarter, more competitive and more responsible, by placing people, the planet and prosperity at its core. 1 For more information, please refer to the following United Nations Joint Inspection Unit reports on “Review of donor reporting requirements across the United Nations system” (JIU/REP/2017/7), “State of the internal audit function in the United Nations system (JIU/REP/2016/8) and “Oversight lacunae in the United Nations system” (JIU/REP/2006/2), available at: https://www.unjiu.org/content/reports. CE/108/5(b) World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) – A

37.The Management proposes to initiate the process leading to the presentation of the UNWTO Strategic Plan towards 2030 at the 23rd session of the UNWTO General Assembly in 2019.

VI. Action by the Executive Council

DRAFT DECISION2 The Executive Council, Having examined the report of the Secretary-General on the management vision and priorities,

1. Endorses the priorities presented by the Secretary-General for the period 2018-2019;

2. Takes note of the new organizational structure;

3. Welcomes his proposal to revise the top-level management of the Secretariat, in order to comply with the legal framework of the Organization and optimize programme performance and coordination;

4. Approves the appointment of Mr. Jaime Alberto Cabal Sanclemente (Colombia) as Deputy Secretary-General in accordance with Staff Regulation 15 (b); and

5. Supports, in the context of the restructuring of the Secretariat, the continuity of Mr. Zhu Shanzhong (China) and the appointment of Mr. Manuel Butler (Spain) as Executive Directors, and wishes them successful tenures in the Secretary-General’s cabinet.

On Wednesday 25th April, Tom Jenkins, CEO, ETOA, the European tourism association, gave evidence to the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism.

In the opening statement to the hearing on the impact of Brexit, he likened Brexit to a Chimera, the mythical hybrid animal that has now come to symbolise a fantastical idea.

Brexit was such an idea. It is already having a damaging impact on people working in the tourism industry in the EU. In the UK, many businesses are already struggling to recruit and retain workers from Continental Europe as the appeal of coming to work in the UK was diminishing. That is problematic for UK-based companies and is a constraint on the careers of young people living in the EU and the UK.

There is also a complication for UK companies using guides and representatives in Europe: their employment status (and so their livelihoods) are now in jeopardy.

One technical issue is the application of VAT. Under the current regime, known as the Tour Operators Margin Scheme or TOMS, companies based in the EU do not need to register and account for VAT in each different country in which they operate. It is a provision that saves companies a great deal of financial administration. Tom Jenkins argued that it should continue to be available post Brexit to UK-based companies bringing visitors to the EU and EU-based companies bringing visitors to the UK.

Tom Jenkins said: “Our members sell Europe in general, and in, in doing so, sell the European Service Economy. Anything that adds administrative burdens and costs is harmful. The less the UK is associated with Europe, the less is the appeal of Europe and vice versa. The four freedoms (of goods, services, labour and capital) are important for tourism businesses. We can meet demand wherever it occurs and source product wherever it exists. This widens the scope for business and enriches the choice for consumers. Nobody wants to have to abide by two different sets of rules. If the easiest way to trade is to establish offices in both the UK and Continental Europe, companies will do that. This spells an increase in administrative burden.”

The current EU rules are far from perfect. The latest changes to the Package Travel Directive are welcome but they are already obsolete. “Discussions need to begin immediately on PTD3,” urged Jenkins.

In concluding, Tom Jenkins issued an appeal to the Brexit negotiators on both sides: “Do everything in your power to maintain the status quo and come to that outcome quickly. It is in both parties’ self-interest. National self-interest may be the Deus ex Machina that this situation needs.”