UKinbound weighs into tourism funding debate
Friday, 13 Feb, 2009
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The government’s support for tourism has been called into question by UKinbound which has also called for a delay to the new form of Air Passenger Duty.
Chairman Philip Green, speaking at the organisation’s annual convention in Manchester, blamed the government for hindering tourism and cancelling the effect of the weak pound by charging high taxes for overseas visitors.
“Air Passenger Duty adds so much to the cost of a long haul arrival that any reduction in the currency value will be wiped out,” he said.
“They are “supporting” us by complicating and increasing APD and by extending the reach of visa costs requirements. Is that the kind of support we need?
“And when the currency is not in our favour the APD is a huge hindrance. It’s some £560.00 in economy class for a family of four coming from a long haul destination.”
Green also talked about a lack of joined-up thinking in government, with many policies which affect tourism, being controlled, not by the sponsoring government department, DCMS, but elsewhere in Whitehall such as immigration and transport.
He gave the example of a recent decision to introduce compulsory visas for visitors to the UK from South Africa, Bolivia and Venezuela.
“So now we have more requirement and barriers to entry for genuine tourists at a time when we have been asking government to support the industry with proportionate measures,” said Green.
His is the latest voice added to a list of critics of ministers for failing to support the UK tourism industry at a time of recession.
But Green praised the government in its acknowledgment of the importance of tourism, by referring to it as “a huge step forward”and one that UKinbound wants to see “extended in terms of true partnership working”.
UKinbound welcomed a move by tourism minister Barbara Follett to chair a committee of relevant Whitehall ministers being set up to “create a unified and considered approach to help grow the tourism industry in this country and to reduce the obstacles to our international competitiveness.”
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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