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UKinbound slate government’s ‘woeful record’ on tourism
UKinbound has launched a blistering attack on the government amid criticisms from culture minister Tessa Jowell that the tourism industry needs to improve its quality and service.
Chief executive Stephen Dowd branded the comments as a “cynical ploy” to cover up the government’s “woeful record on tourism issues.”
Jowell’s remarks – that tourism needs to “improve the consistency of its quality and raise the level of skills” – followed a meeting at Downing Street between tourism chiefs, Tony Blair and senior ministers. Dowd described the meeting as worthy “lacking any meaningful content” and full of government rhetoric.
He said: “The quality of UK tourism products and services stands comparison with the best in the world and our workers are as productive as all our main competitors.
“This was a cynical ploy by the DCMS to shift the spotlight from their woeful record on tourism issues.
“Yes, there is always room for improvement and there are some skills shortages in key areas but that is more to do with the government’s unfocused and confusing approach to vocational and further education as highlighted in the Foster Report.”
Dowd insisted the real barriers to realising the potential of the 2012 Olympic Games are the UK’s “lack of competitiveness in a price sensitive global market” and the “failure of the regional development agencies to provide a coordinated and cohesive structure for tourism in England.”
“It is time to reduce the tax burden on our visitors and businesses and government should compel the RDAs to contribute a proportion of their income to a central fund for the international marketing on England,” he said.
“The government continues to duck these issues while DCMS has compounded the problem through their shambolic handling of the recent gambling, licensing and smoking bills, all of which will have a profound impact on tourism businesses.”
Report by Steve Jones
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