Book Description

Tourism is the UK's 5th largest industry employing over 1.4 million people and generating over £85 billion for the economy per annum. This report, from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee (HCP 133-I, session 2007-08, ISBN 9780215521705) examines tourism from a broader perspective, looking at governance, funding, skills and the environment. An earlier report focused on the structure of the tourism industry (HCP 65, session 2002-03, ISBN 9780215007957). The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is the sponsor department for tourism, whilst promotion of UK destinations overseas is the reponsibility of VisitBritain. The English Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) have responsibility for regional tourism. In the past decade there has been little growth in the domestic tourism sector (tourism in the UK) which accounts for 80% of the value to the industry. The Committee expressed a strong reservation in the funding cut to VisitBritain by the DCMS, from £49.9 million to £40 million. This funding cut could also have an impact on the marketing and promotion of UK tourism overseas with the 2012 Olympic Games representing a major opportunity for the UK's tourism industry. The Committee also sees insufficient incentives for local authorities to invest in tourism. The Committee also expresses concern at the lack of confidence displayed by the tourism industry in DCMS. The Committee would like to see tourism becoming a mainstream issue in government. The Committee though does support the Government's initiative in raising the quality of accommodation and an increase those accredited. The UK is perceived to have poor levels of customer service, despite £500 million being spent by the public sector on skills development. The Committee also feels there is too heavy a reliance on a migrant workforce in the tourism industry and greater efforts are needed to employ locally unemployed people.The cost of visting the UK is also expensive, in part due to charges payable by overseas visitors, averaging £207 per person in visa, taxes and other government charges. The Committee recommends that the Government reviews options that would make obtaining a visa a simpler process. For Volume 2, Oral and written evidence (HCP 133-II, ISBN 9780215521699).