The Tourism Alliance has criticised the Government’s decision to slash funding to UK tourism bodies, even though VisitBritain and VisitEngland have accepted the cuts as inevitable.
VisitBritain chief executive Christopher Rodrigues described the 34% cut over four years as ‘tough love’ while VisitEngland chief James Berresford said the body was well prepared for the reduction.
But the Alliance, which represents 200,000 tourism businesses, said the cut was at odds with the Prime Minister’s recent statement that tourism presents "a huge economic opportunity….driving growth in the regions and helping to deliver the rebalancing of our national economy that is so desperately needed."
Reducing VisitBritain’s funds again, in the period immediatey before the Olympics, also puts the £2billion tourism legacy in jeopardy, said the Tourism Alliance.
"Cutting VisitEngland’s funding at the same time as the RDA (Regional Development Agency) money is withdrawn is a double blow and will limit the private sector’s ability to grow inbound and domestic tourism, as the Prime Minister wishes," it said in a statement.
Tourism Alliance chairman Ken Robinson added: “We know that VisitBritain and VisitEngland will respond, using every pound wisely.
"However, the Treasury’s attitude to tourism, not recognising that investment in the sector brings immediate and high returns to Britain, is short sighted. It hampers growth and tourism’s potential in the task of rebuilding the economy."
The Alliance went on to say that if the Government was serious about its pledge to improve the competitiveness of UK tourism it must tackle keyissues that restrict its competitiveness in the global market.
"Inbound tourism is deterred by the Government raising Air Passenger Duty, raising the cost of visas, and increasing VAT on UK tourism goods and services to over twice the level of our European competitor destinations," it said.
"While these revenue-raising measures remain, it is essential to invest more in marketing to overcome the disincentive to inbound tourism."
By Linsey McNeill
