THE GOVERNMENT has decided not to accept the Civil Aviation Authority’s recommendation for a £1 levy on all air passengers departing the UK.

The levy was intended to finance the homeward journeys of passengers whose airline went bankrupt while they were abroad and refunds of the money they had lost.

In a written statement to Parliament, aviation minister Karen Buck says: “The recommendation has its merits, but we believe that people should be free to choose whether to pay for insurance or not, as it is not compulsory, but wise to do so.

However, the government has asked the CAA to see whether the system of ATOL bonds could be replaced with a less bureaucratic way of meeting tour operators' obligations to package holiday-makers under European law.

European legislation on Package Travel requires travel organisers to provide evidence of security for the refund of money paid over and for the repatriation of the consumer in the event of insolvency of the tour operating company.

COACH drivers travelling along red routes in London are facing distress and difficulties for coach access and parking within designated areas around the capital.

Coach consultant Bob Pilbeam highlighted some of the areas causing havoc for drivers.

Kensington and Chelsea is proposing to limit the amount of traffic including coaches in Exhibition Road. This will put added pressure on the already overcrowded coach bays on the red route along Cromwell Road.

A red route surrounds Victoria station where coaches regularly pick up groups. Taxis, buses and open-top buses are all accommodated, but there is not one coach bay available.

St. Johns Wood Road, opposite Lords Cricket Ground, is a red route with no coach bay by the Raddison hotel. Coaches therefore have to set down and pick up in Lodge Road, and often park forward of the road’s entrance partly stopping on the side road, blocking traffic and getting parking tickets.

Pilbeam says: "I have highlighted just a few examples of why parking enforcement must go hand in hand with a responsibility by local authorities to consider the reasons and consequences of their actions. With all these red routes disrupting the coach service in London, what does the driver do?

“The hopeful signs is that in the case of Transport for London they are willing to enter into negotiations to solve them,” adds Pilbeam.

THE NATIONAL tourism body VisitBritain will launch an updated three-year strategy for international marketing this December.

In light of this new scheme and changing stakeholder expectations, VisitBritain has conducted a review of how its international marketing and overseas operations divisions work together.

The review has led to the recommendation that international marketing and overseas operations should be merged into one division, with one director, which will lead to a more focused delivery of the Britain International Marketing Strategy.

The new division, Britain International, will increase the clarity and focus of VisitBritain’s international marketing in 36 markets. It will also create a more straightforward route to these markets for partners.

While the number of overseas hubs will reduce from eight to four, VisitBritain will not be closing any overseas offices and will retain its presence in all existing markets.

Roger Johnson will act as Britain International director and oversee implementation of the restructure ahead of his retirement next year. We will now be actively recruiting for a permanent director.