ETRF and Focus 1999 close a chapter in industry history

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The European Travel Research Foundation (ETRF) and Focus 1999, the companies formed by the industry to research the impact of the abolition of intra-EU duty-free and co-ordinate the lobbying campaign, have been formally wound up. Residual funds have been donated to charity, the ETRF said in a statement this week.

Following Denmark's refusal in June 1999 to join other countries supporting an extension to intra-EU duty-free sales, the directors of ETRF and Focus 1999 decided to close the operations and return the remaining funds from each company on a pro-rata basis to their respective members. The directors ruled that residual funds were to be donated to charity.

Accordingly ETRF said it has donated £1,555 ($2,146) to the Turkish Orphans Earthquake appeal, which was the designated charity of the Raven Fox Ball in 2000.

The statistics contributed by the industry to ETRF to establish its database and the projected impact of abolition have all been destroyed. A library of some 30 specialist reports has been archived but no further details were available.

Focus 1999, which co-ordinated the consumer campaign across the EU, donated just over £3,732 ($5,150) to the Chernobyl Appeal supported by Aer Rianta for which £66,000 ($91,080) was raised at the Raven Fox Ball in March 2001. This sum is in addition to the monies raised for Focus 1999 at the 1999 Ball, which were unused and were subsequently donated to UNICEF, said a spokesperson for ETRF.

ETRF and Focus 1999 signed off by thanking the donors, companies and directors involved in the campaign which was, against all odds, very nearly won.