Government on the tourist trail with new regional funding plan

EVCOM chair Marco Forgione said: “Reaching out beyond London is absolutely necessary”.

“It needs greater coordination and some of that can be done relatively simply, but it needs more than just fine words”.

The news comes as Prime Minister David Cameron announced the Government’s new five-point plan to boost tourism in every region of the United Kingdom – spreading the benefits of one of the country’s faster growing sectors beyond the capital.

Visa reforms to make it easier to visit the United Kingdom, along with c urbs on red tape and transport improvements, are among the plans outlined in a strategy to increase visitor numbers.

The tourism sector has been calling for a wider recognition of its significant contribution to the United Kingdom economy for many years, and also for a better understanding of how the work not just of DCMS but of many government departments including the Home Office, Treasury and BIS has an impact on tourism, including leisure, business and educational.

Mr Cameron said: “Millions of overseas tourists visit the United Kingdom every year and most take in the sights of London. But Britain has so much more to offer, from the Cornish Riviera to the Scottish Highlands and everything in between”, he said. “Tourism supports nearly one in ten jobs in the United Kingdom and we want to rebalance the economy to make sure this boost is felt right across the country”.

James Berresford continues: “Our ambition for the South West Tourism Growth Fund is to work closely with VisitBritain and partner destinations to create an additional visitor spend of £60m, supporting the creation of 1,000 jobs to boost the South West visitor economy”.

“This is truly a watershed moment for the hospitality and tourism industry and is a result of concerted campaigning by the BHA and its members to Parliament and Whitehall to make their voices heard loud and clear on how we can make the United Kingdom a better place to live, work and visit”, she said.

“We welcome that focussed commitment on jobs and skills, transport infrastructure, an improved visitor experience, and a more joined up approach to tourism across Government, through the new ministerial taskforce, all of which were priority areas identified by ABTA in our manifesto ahead of the General Election”.

In further reaction, Tourism Alliance director, Kurt Janson, said: “Tourism is a major United Kingdom success story”.

“However, to be effective, this group must tackle the key areas where the United Kingdom tourism industry is internationally uncompetitive such as APD, Value-Added Tax and visas and resolve issues such as sub-national tourism structures and over regulation”.