A YouGov survey showed support across the political spectrum, with even 61 per cent of those who voted to leave the bloc in 2016 in favour of such a deal…reports Asian Lite News
New research commissioned by Abta and Seasonal Businesses in Travel (SBiT) has revealed overwhelming public backing for a youth mobility deal with the European Union, piling pressure on the government to act following May’s UK-EU Summit.
A YouGov survey of 2,224 British adults, carried out on 25–26 August, found that 76 per cent of respondents support an agreement that would allow young people from the UK to live, work and study in the EU for temporary periods. Crucially, the survey showed support across the political spectrum, with even 61 per cent of those who voted to leave the bloc in 2016 in favour of such a deal.
Abta, the UK’s leading travel association, said the findings underline the public’s recognition of the benefits of restoring youth mobility, describing the results as “strong support” from voters of all political persuasions. The association noted that young people have faced fewer opportunities to work abroad since Brexit, a change which has also hurt the UK’s outbound travel industry.
According to Abta’s data, the number of Britons working in overseas tourism support roles – such as holiday representatives and resort staff – has fallen by 69 per cent since the Brexit referendum. Industry leaders argue this has deprived young people of a traditional entry point into travel careers, while simultaneously making it harder for UK firms to staff popular European destinations.
The travel sector has long emphasised the economic weight it brings to Britain. Abta points out that the outbound travel industry contributes more than £52 billion annually in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the economy, and that almost half of senior leaders in the industry began their careers in overseas roles. Restoring opportunities for youth mobility, it argues, is not only about cultural enrichment but also about maintaining the UK’s long-term competitiveness in tourism.
The associations are now urging ministers to seize the moment by negotiating with Brussels. They argue that the political will exists on both sides, particularly after the UK-EU deal reached in May, which covered cooperation in areas such as enhanced use of e-gates for British travellers.
Luke Petherbridge, Abta’s director of public affairs, said: “We know that travel is one of the most noticeable areas that has been altered by the UK’s departure from the EU – with Brits now having to join different passport queues, and changes to the in-destination experience of UK holidaymakers as it has become harder for travel companies to get UK staff into Europe. We welcomed the UK-EU deal in May. We now need to see progress on the items within the deal, such as enhanced use of e-gates and, importantly, restoring opportunities for young people from the UK to live and work in the EU, which often is the way people take their first steps into a career in travel.”
He added that such measures would give the industry the tools to grow and ensure its continued success, while reinforcing Britain’s image as an outward-looking nation.
The survey also highlighted broader public appetite for repairing relations with the EU. Two-thirds (66 per cent) of respondents said they believed closer ties with the bloc would boost the UK economy. Meanwhile, 57 per cent supported generally closer relations with Brussels, compared to just 12 per cent who preferred greater distance.
For the travel industry, the stakes are particularly high. Petherbridge warned of upcoming changes that could affect border crossings and holiday bookings. The EU’s new Entry/Exit System is due to be introduced in October, followed by its own pre-travel authorisation system in 2026, while the UK launched its Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme earlier this year.
“These changes require ongoing attention to avoid disruption, especially for certain types of travel such as school trips,” he said. “Future deals must be reached to avoid new barriers being placed to travel. The polling undertaken this weekend demonstrates that there is strong support for this approach among the UK public.”
Charles Owen, managing director at Seasonal Businesses in Travel, echoed the call for urgency. He argued that while some temporary arrangements have been patched together, they remain unilateral, inconsistent and inadequate for long-term planning.
“The industry has been held back by the lack of mobility arrangements,” he said. “Whilst some temporary arrangements have been agreed, these are not universal – and are unilateral, so offer little certainty. A UK-EU wide agreement will offer a partial solution, and we’d encourage ministers to get on and do the deal.”
The findings come at a politically delicate moment for the government. While ministers have expressed caution about re-opening wide-ranging talks with Brussels, business leaders and now the public appear to be moving in favour of more pragmatic cooperation. With the EU’s own border systems about to undergo major changes, industry figures warn that delay could lead to disruption during the busy travel seasons ahead.
For Abta and SBiT, the message is clear: restoring youth mobility is not just a cultural matter, but one tied to the UK’s economic prospects and the future health of a sector that employs tens of thousands. Whether the government seizes the opportunity to move negotiations forward remains to be seen, but public opinion – at least according to this latest poll – appears firmly in favour.
