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UKinbound calls for extra funding
UKinbound has called on the government to increase its tourism funding after London was chosen to host the 2012 Olympics.
Chief executive Stephen Dowd said the Olympics provided the “perfect platform” to aggressively market Britain overseas.
The capital was chosen to host the event after a nerve-shredding showdown with Paris in a final round of voting in Singapore.
Speaking moments after the announcement, Dowd said: “This is tremendous news. We will be working with VisitBritain and the government over the next few years to ensure we take full advantage. We need the right product and service to attract people who would otherwise not have come to Britain.
“VisitBritain has not had an increase in funding for around seven years. We will now be looking for the government to increase this and give them the kind of resources our competitors have.”
“While any increase would be welcome, we think it should be 50% higher than it is today.”
A VisitBritain spokesman said it was too early to discuss the issue of additional funding and stressed revenue would be generated by the Games, irrespective of whether the government released more funds.
Dowd said UKinbound will seek talks with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, VisitBritain and the Tourism Alliance on how to exploit the opportunity.
He predicted that UKinbound members could expect an increase in revenue of between 5% and 10% in the years leading up to the Olympics and between 10% and 15% after the event.
Visit London meanwhile insisted the Games would further add to London’s resurgence as a world class tourist destination.
“In the last two years London has increased its share of global tourism,” said chief executive James Bidwell. “Between now and 2012 we will be focusing year on year to bring visitors to the capital, fully maximising the opportunities that holding the Olympic and Paralympic Games can bring.”
Report by Steve Jones
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