Prime Minister Gordon Brown will be lobbied over tourism investment when he attends a special summit in Liverpool today to mark its achievements as European Capital of Culture in 2008.
He will hear from tourism leaders about the vital role the industry plays in delivering the economic benefits of Britain’s cultural attractions.
They will warn that without investment for growth, the economic downturn could result in 114,000 fewer jobs in the sector – negating any employment benefit from the government’s capital investment programme.
Representatives from public and private sector organisations will say that, with the financial services sector shrinking, Britain needs to look to other industries to deliver revenue and create jobs and that now is the moment to invest in the £114 billion visitor economy.
Led by VisitBritain, the summit is highlighting tourism’s role as a fast creator of jobs – for every £40,000 spent in the visitor economy, one tourism job is created, according to the tourism agency.
VisitBritain executive chairman Christopher Rodrigues said: “To realise all of the benefits which flow from tourism – jobs created, vibrant communities regenerated, health and wellbeing improved, overseas investment in the UK increased and foreign exchange generated, our cultural and natural assets appreciated and celebrated, and Britain’s contribution and place in the world acknowledged – we must invest, politically and financially.”
“We can as a nation choose to invest for that growth and thereby build our national economy. Or we can fail to take action and accept the gradual decline of the industry and its worth.”
In the face of fierce competition from rival destinations with often strong government support, the tourism industry is urging government – national and devolved – to partner with the private sector on a multi-million pound match-funded campaign to promote Britain domestically and internationally as a ‘value for money’ destination.
Tourism minister Barbara Follett said: "Tourism is this country’s fifth largest industry and today's summit is about government working with the sector to ensure that it continues to thrive even in these difficult economic times.
"Liverpool, during its year as European Capital of Culture, is a hugely successful example of how investment in the arts can increase visitor numbers. There are lots of opportunities, as well as challenges, for the tourist industry in the coming decade and we must seize them. Over the next ten years the United Kingdom will be hosting a series of exceptional sporting and cultural events. Building on the Liverpool model we hope to use these to boost visitor numbers and the tourist economy."
Rodrigues added: “If this is what has been done for Liverpool as European Capital of Culture, just imagine what might be achieved in inspiring international visitors to explore Britain when the Ryder Cup, Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games reach our shores.”
by Phil Davies
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