Mr. Tom Jenkins

Tom Jenkins is the Executive Director of the European Tour Operators Association (ETOA), which represents tour operators and their suppliers at European level. It promotes greater awareness of the benefits provided by the group travel industry and influences European tourism policy and legislation.

Under Tom’s stewardship, ETOA’s scope of activities have broadened considerably, close relationships have been built with numerous legislators and other trade bodies and membership has more than doubled to the point where the Association now represents the interest of 8 million inbound tourists.

He has been responsible for championing tourist access to historic cities, for initiating a Europe-wide coach safety code and for leading a campaign that successfully blocked changes to EU VAT legislation that would have jeopardised 5,000 tourism jobs in Europe.

Tom is a ‘Tourism Expert’, often called upon by a variety of media including GM TV, BBC TV, CNN, CNBC and Radios 4 & 5. After the July 2005 bombings in London he was prominent as a commentator, reassuring tourists that London was safe and open for business.

He is known for his outspoken views. On safety and security, he says: "When knitting needles are taken from elderly ladies, nail clippers from young girls and airport restaurants are devoid of cutlery, then the terrorists have succeed in stripping the travel industry of its sense of style and amenity and they have won."

On tourism opportunities for the new EU accession countries he says: "When the new accession countries realise that EU VAT regulations will make them less competitive tourism destinations overnight; they might have second thoughts about the benefits of joining."

On sustainable tourism, he says: "There is no such thing as environmentally sustainable tourism."

Before taking the reins at ETOA, Tom held a number of management positions at American, Express, ultimately being responsible for all aspects of the company’s inbound leisure travel for scheduled tours, independent vacations and customised itineraries. There, he launched a fully integrated computerised booking system, he developed the first interactive CD-Rom brochure and he managed a corps of 350 tour managers operating throughout Europe.

Prior to joining American Express, Tom was a Director of Equinox Travel and before that he spent 5 years as a tour manager working for American Express and Thomas Cook.

Tom graduated from Bristol University with a BA in English & History. Following this he embarked on two years post-graduate research at London University’s Courtauld Institute. He is married with two children.

Mr. Jenkins can be contacted at +44 (0) 20 7499 4412 or TJenkins@ETOA.org