27 March 2009

Politicians debate UK tourism hurdles

A range of hurdles preventing UK tourism from thriving have been raised at a cross-party debate in the industry on the opening day of the Best of Britain and Ireland exhibition.

Key inhibitors to tourism growth included the cost and availability of visas to visit the UK, lack of funding for VisitBritain and the domestic tourism industry in general, high VAT rates on accommodation and attractions and red tape surrounding tourism funding through regional development agencies.

Conservative shadow tourism minister Tobias Ellwood and Liberal Democrat shadow culture secretary Don Foster appeared on the same stage as tourism minister Barbara Follett and Wales Tourism Alliance chairman Julian Burrell in the Tourism Question Time debate.

Ellwood revealed that his party is to announce its tourism policy next week at a gathering in Brighton.

But he hinted at measures to reduce the power of RDAs across the country over tourism funding in favour of a focus on a stronger English voice for tourism interlinked with agencies representing Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Ellwood described it as "ironic" that it has taken a downturn in the economy to make people more aware of holidaying in the UK.

And he called for emergency funding to be matched by the industry similar to support given following the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the foot and mouth crisis.

"Extra money was pumped in then and that’s exactly what should happen now," he urged.

Foster also demanded more investment in promoting Britain overseas at a time when VisitBritain’s budget is being cut by 19% over three years.

"We must improved the resources of VisitBritain and must make what we have ore affordable. With the value of the pound, that should help but there is a strong business case for looking at the cost of visas," he said.

Foster also identified concerns about service standards and the lack of promotion of sporting activities and events as areas to be addressed.

Follett won his support for attempting to extract additional funding for tourism from the Treasury.

But she made it clear that issues regarding UK tourism were "not just about money", saying that the idea for VisitBritain was that efficiencies could be made and better use of online services to promote the country overseas was needed.

Follett said old problems at the national tourism agency still exist "and we need to deal with those".

Burrell took a pessimistic view of the current predictions of an upswing in UK holidays and cast doubt on whether British tourism would pick up in the short term.

He added that it would take time and work to increase overseas visitor numbers despite the weakness of the value of sterling.

"There are no signs that there is going to be a big bonanza," he said.

As for projections from VisitEngland of five million more domestic holidaymakers this year, Burrell sounded another note of caution.

"It is a great challenge to make that come through," he said. "For a lot of companies it is a case of making sure we get the same as last year."

*See other Best of Britain and Ireland show coverage.