Inbound tour operators have welcomed the Prime Minister’s recognition of tourism’s role in rebalancing the UK economy, but say the government needs to remove barriers to growth and help to restore Britain as a competitive destination.
UKinbound chief executive Mary Rance said that in particular the government needed to address aviation taxation, which she said has ’caused a downward spiral in visitor numbers to the UK since 2007′.
Whilst welcoming David Cameron’s promise to improve the local delivery of visas in key markets such as China and India, Rance said more needed to be done.
She added: "As the Prime Minster said ‘we have not been working hard enough to sell our country abroad’ and this is where the industry needs to work in partnership with VisitBritain and destinations to grow awareness in the global marketplace and to grow incremental business to the UK.
"We look forward to working with Government to ensure a new era of regeneration in inbound tourism.”
The Tourism Alliance also seemed cheered by the PM’s speech. Chairman Ken Robinson said: "We believe that tourism has the capacity and potential to grow to be a £190bn industry for the UK over the next decade.
"Supported by the Government’s recognition and new commitments, the industry is ready to look forward to working with Departments on initiatives that will turn this potential into economic growth and jobs."
By Linsey McNeill
