Britain's place as top tourist destination 'threatened by lack of investment'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Britain risks slumping out of the top 10 global tourist destinations within five years, a senior industry leader warned yesterday.
Stephen Dowd, the chief executive of the British Incoming Tour Operators' Association, which represents businesses bringing overseas tourists to Britain, said ministers had failed to support tourism as a major industry.
The Government had consistently failed to invest money and support in tourism, despite the savage setbacks that the industry had suffered from the foot-and-mouth crisis, the 11 September attacks and now the war in Iraq, Mr Dowd said.
The war in Iraq could cut up to £2bn from tourism earnings this year, a fall of about 15 per cent, he said last week.
The Tourism Industry Emergency Response Group warned of "clear nervousness" in long-haul markets, although it remained confident about long-term prospects for the tourism industry. Senior industry figures are thought to be exploring the possibility of launching a personal appeal by Tony Blair to kick-start the American tourist trade when the war in Iraq has finished.
Visit Britain, the new organisations set up to market Britain at home and overseas, is also planning a summer media blitz to encourage Americans to travel to the UK. But ministers are not expected to increase funding for international marketing to overcome the effects of the war.
Mr Dowd said: "We are going to drop out of the top 10 in five years unless this Government tries to take tourism more seriously." He called for cuts in taxation on hotel rooms and other tourist-related sales, and warned that ministers were providing inadequate support to an industry which generates £12bn a year directly, and brings many billions more into the British economy. He said: "For every £1 the Government puts into tourism they will extract £1.40 in tax revenue."
Britain currently ranks sixth in the global league table for tourist destinations.
MOST POPULAR DESTINATIONS 2001
Country: Number of arrivals (millions)
1 France 76.5
2 Spain 49.5
3 US 45.5
4 Italy 39.0
5 China 33.2
6 UK 23.4
7 Russia 21.2
8 Mexico 19.8
9 Canada 19.7
10 Austria 18.2
Source: World Tourism Organisation 2001
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments