31 July 2008

VisitBritain redundancies spark anger

Tourism Alliance chairman Bob Cotton has expressed his dismay at the loss of 136 jobs at VisitBritain.

The cull, announced earlier this week, represents 40 per cent of VisitBritainÃ¢â¬â¢s head office positions and 25 per cent of overseas staff.

It follows the increased devolution of public sector responsibility for tourism to Scotland, Wales, London and the English regions over recent years as well as the recent cut in government funding for VisitBritain.

On hearing of VisitBritainÃ¢â¬â¢s fourth restructuring in five years, Cotton said: Ã¢â¬ÅâœEven more disappointing is that the decision has been announced at a time when the industry is still being consulted by VisitBritain on the British Framework Review, which is considering how the organisation can best operate with the context of future government funding.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœOne can only assume that VisitBritain has been forced into yet another round of redundancies as a direct result of the governmentÃ¢â¬â¢s inability to take tourism seriously.Ã¢â¬~

He predicted it would have a negative impact on VisitBritainÃ¢â¬â¢s work in promoting domestic and inbound tourism.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœThis is particularly the case when there are no ring-fenced funds for promoting the 2012 Olympic Games.Ã¢â¬~

The British Framework Review will be completed in October.