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WTTC issues infrastructure warning to UK Government
Travel and tourism leaders gathered in London today to discuss the growing pressures on transport infrastructures worldwide, but particularly in Britain.
At a meeting of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), president Jean-Claude Baumgarten urged the UK government to act now or risk jeopardising its strong economic position.
“It’s not only Heathrow, although it is an example. If a country is not up to standard or ready to absorb the traffic, it will go somewhere else. Competition is very fierce among countries,” he said.
“Governments need to have a master plan in place for the next 10-15 years. They should be aware that this industry is important – responsible for 9.1% of GDP in the UK – and is growing.
“It’s very fancy to speak about the environment, which is important, but it’s equally important that we get into our minds that the infrastructure needs to be able to cope.
“There is a link between good infrastructure and good environmental behaviour. If you have congestion because of airport constraints or air traffic control, you will have aircraft waiting on the runways burning fuel.
“The time is now ripe to look at all those issues and come up with a master plan, and it’s even more important in the UK, which will be hosting the Olympics in 2012. Billions of pounds are going to be spent and the environment and infrastructure should be part of the investment plans.”
According to the WTTC, the UK’s travel and tourism economy is expected to generate over £190 billion in 2007, growing faster than the current annual rate of inflation at 3.1% between 2008 and 2017.
The UK stands as the fifth largest travel and tourism economy, contributing 9.1% of GDP and 8.5% of employment in 2007.
Whitbread chief executive Alan Parker warned: “The hospitality industry depends heavily on the infrastructure of air, road and rail links, which transport clients to the hotels.
“If infrastructure does not keep pace with growth, then business and tourism could drift away from the UK to other markets on the continent.”
The WTTC is the forum for the chairs and chief executives of the world’s most prominent 100 travel and tourism companies.
It works with industry and governments to raise awareness of the strategic importance of the industry.
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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