Gov makes hasty u-turn on tourism strategy

Thursday, 20 Jun, 2003 0

The tourism sector appears to have been another area overlooked by the government in its botched reshuffle.

Tourism was previously the responsibility of Kim Howells, who has been appointed transport minister. Yet by this morning the Department of Culture Media and Sport was still unable to confirm that Minister of Sport Richard Caborn will also be taking over responsibility for tourism. However a spokeswoman said confirmation was likely to come later today (Friday).

Liberal Democrat Tourism spokesman Adrian Sanders MP told TravelMole that the government had initially decided to demote tourism to an under-secretary of state post in the Lords but had been forced to quickly back-track after industry complaints.

Mr Sanders told TravelMole: “I think it is a bit of an insult that this massive industry doesn’t have its own cabinet post. If people hadn’t spoken out there would have just been an under-secretary in the Lords.”

He added: “I think they overlooked it and have now decided Richard Caborn can do it. He will be sports minister with responsibility for tourism, which is very different from a tourism minister with responsibility for sports.”

Mr Sanders said he believed there should be a minister of state with sole responsibility for the tourism and hospitality sectors, adding that in an “ideal world” the industry deserved its own secretary of state.

However an ABTA spokeswoman said the association would welcome Mr Caborn’s appointment.

She told TravelMole: “We believe having sport as well will prove a good balance. Kim Howells also had film and broadcasting and if anything we think sports and tourism go slightly better together.”

The spokeswoman added: “The fact that Kim Howells is now in the department of transport means he knows the issues [we face] on that front.”

The decision to put both sports and tourism under the jurisdiction of Richard Caborn may work well as London puts together its bid to host the 2012 Olympics, which if successful will boost both sectors.

The two worlds of sport and tourism are also uniting in the figure of ex-Go chief executive Barbara Cassani, who is chairing Britain’s bid for the games.