UK tourism needs private funding, says UK travel boss
Private companies should be brought in to support VisitEngland and VisitBritain, according to the boss of the independent tourism and accommodation directory iknow-uk.
Managing director Marcus Simmons said pumping private sector funding into domestic tourist boards would save public money and help to drive initiatives forward.
His comments follow the revelation that the Government is considering ‘an alternative structure’ for VisitEngland and VisitBritain, which might result in the two quangos being merged back into one body.
"It’s good news that the government has announced a review on how domestic tourist boards such as VisitEngland and VisitBritain are run," said Simmons.
""It’s really important that tourist boards continue to do their work in attracting people to the UK, especially with the Olympics coming up, but I believe it’s time for the government to step back and look at the way these organisations are funded.
"Tourism is the UK’s fifth largest industry and it’s vital to the overall economy that it is made as profitable a sector as possible.
"Private companies should be brought in to support the tourist boards in their work – it will help them to drive forward more initiatives, whilst saving the UK tax payer the considerable money that is currently paid out in subsidies."
Simmons warned there was a danger that UK tourism was focusing too heavily on attracting visitors during the 2012 Olympics and failing to look beyond the Games.
"We have an amazing offer for travellers all year round, and we need to be ensuring as much support as possible for the tourist boards – but at the right price," he added.
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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