UKinbound attacks Government over 2012 Games
UKinbound has reacted angrily to claims by the Government that it should be responsible for marketing the UK in the run up to the 2012 Olympics.
Last October, the Department of Media, Culture and Sport cut funding to VisitBritain by one fifth. The move came despite a Government-backed report that said the London Games could generate tourism revenue of up to £1.2 billion, but only if sufficient resources were allocated to the event.
This week, a DCMS spokesman re-iterated its stance by saying: “By securing the 2012 Games for Britain, we have provided a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our tourism industry. It is now up to the industry to make the most of the Games.â€
But UKinbound chief executive Stephen Dowd said the DCMS was misguided.
“DCMS is being characteristically disingenuous in claiming they were responsible for securing the 2012 Games for London but arguing that tourism businesses should be responsible for destination marketing shows just how little the department responsible for tourism really understands the industry.
“The tourism industry, the majority of which is made up of small businesses, simply does not have the capacity or the expertise for the international marketing of the UK as a tourism destination. This should be centrally co-ordinated and undertaken by the national tourist board, which is the only viable and indeed best-practice model that is used by the world’s top tourism destinations, and the UK should be no different.
“The Government must really understand that infrastructure will not boost tourism on its own. If the world is unaware of the fantastic facilities here in the UK, then they will simply not come and visit.â€
Jeremy Skidmore
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports