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On the 10th July The Culture, Media and Sport Committee published its Eighth Report in Session 2007-08, Tourism (HC 133). The Committee finds that the Government is failing to give the necessary support to UK tourism during a challenging period for the industry.
Key overview:
• The Committee is concerned by the "lack of confidence the industry appears to have in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport" and is discouraged to see that "responsibility for tourism has been so frequently transferred between Departmental Ministers, creating an impression that it is seen as an afterthought which has to fit in with their other responsibilities."
• The Committee specifically criticises the Government for its decision to cut the funding for VisitBritain, the body responsible for promoting UK tourism destinations overseas.
• Under the reduced funding settlement, the Committee finds it difficult to see how the Government's strategy to maximise the tourism benefits from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games can be realised.
• The Committee found that the UK is perceived to offer poor levels of customer service and quality of "welcome".
• The Committee concludes that high visa prices are a further constraint on attracting overseas visitors to the UK.
• Statistics on the tourism industry were widely criticised in the Committee's inquiry for their inaccuracy and inadequacy, disadvantaging tourism in comparison to other industries. The Government undertook a review of tourism statistics in 2004, yet the Committee found that the report's recommendations have been "implemented only in a very limited and piecemeal fashion".
Malcolm Bell, Chief Executive of South West Tourism, said about the report:
“South West Tourism welcomes the report, and agrees completely with their conclusions. In addition to the fact that not only is tourism not being taken seriously, it is being taken for granted, which is quite unbelievable given the impact on the economy of rapid reduction in the tourism industry in the 2001 foot and mouth crisis.
We also welcome the recommendation that the Government should take a serious look at the benefits of introducing Double British Summer Time.
It is vital that the Government quickly understands what is needed at local, regional and national level to ensure that the tourism industry prospers and delivers a multitude of benefits to other businesses, our communities and region as a whole.
We call on the Government to take the report seriously and to act."
To view the full report please visit: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmcumeds.htm.
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6 comments:
A couple of items from the conclusions and recommendations of the report that are key points from a tourism providers perspective:
14. Raising the quality of accommodation is essential to improving the industry, and the NQAS is an important tool in this regard. We support the Government's efforts to increase the number of accredited accommodation providers within a single recognised scheme, but agree that the scheme should remain voluntary. However, we recommend that the scheme be made more flexible so as not to disadvantage smaller or unorthodox accommodation providers. We recommend that the costs for smaller providers are reduced in order to take account of their lower turnover, perhaps to be balanced by increased fees charged to the larger hotels. (Paragraph 110)
There is little doubt that the Green Tourism Business Scheme has helped promote and reward environmental sustainability in the tourism sector. However, we are convinced that some modest changes would lead to both a greater uptake and a greater effectiveness. Significant benefits can be realised from ensuring a closer alignment between the National Quality Assurance Schemes and the Green Tourism Business Scheme. Environmental sustainability should be included within the NQAS. The Government must also take a lead in rewarding those accommodation providers that operate in a sustainable manner. We recommend that sound environmental practice should be a pre-requisite for the acquisition of accommodation contracts for the Government and its sponsored bodies. (Paragraph 167)
whole of industry is confused and disjointed funding is there but cut up and distributed to too many little self protecting qaungos
We used the have he Tourist board And regioanl tourist offices and every one knew what was what
We now have
south West tourism
south west england
visit south west
visit britain
southe est - north south and every where else and sub offices of everything
Green Tourism
Investors in People
Destination management organisations - some who talk to eachother and some who dont
regional development agencies
NQAS
vaqas
nas
and some where among the red tape, stars and diamonds there is a heart of sorely tried and tested business who are trying to run great businesses under the multiple layerd unbrellas of the powers at 'B'
I am sure resources are wasted as the above person comments on. We are without doubt going through a transition period to in theory streamline things slightly - which we welcome - however there are still too many "bad habbits" remaining and bodies not wanting to let go -
I really welcome the public sector input on a local level and their enthusiasm and hard work helping the private sector to flourish - but there is too much input at a higher level that frankly doesn't understand the meaning of running a tourism business. How much government money is washing around at that high level and how many cuts have been made in the wrong places? I am no politician and never want to be but as soon as you have committee after committee trying to solve something that they don't know about money and resources , not to mention time is wasted.
Funds are despaterly needed for the basics:
An Easy local (working to national standard) inspection scheme. There are so many that would join and thus join ATP's if funding & mechanism is available to really help the businesses that need help - again this would have to be done locally.
Sorting out the marketing roles properly of Visit Britain, Enjoy England or whatever it is to be called this next few years!!!!!!!!! DMO's don't really have any money to market with true vigor! It really is too disjointed. No wonder customers are confused!
The need to act quickly marketing what we have when needed eg strong Euro - lets act now to not just stop Uk citizens from going overseas but to encourage Europeans to travel here!
This is where we need your support - the more support / funding, the more proseperity, the more for Gordon Brown and his gang and in turn more for us - we hope!!!!!!!
KISS = keep it short & simple
The KISS of Death is needed to get rid of those multi layers of tourism bureaucracy. They are voracious devourers of government funding and membership fees. The Tourist Board should work for us, not us work for them to pay unrealistic sums to promote our businesses.
The KISS of Life is needed to rejuvenate the tourism administration in a simple, sustainable and effective structure!
One easy step the government can take is to rid us of the VAT inequality. At present, most providers of holiday accommodation do not pay VAT, as they are below the threshold level, yet others do. What is the fairness in that?
Given that many countries around us do not charge VAT on accommodation, or a reduced rate, means travelling abroad is still a cheaper option. If we want to encourage greener travel, then taking VAT out of the equasion will be a very positive step
It is January 3rd 2009 and once again we start to receive the rounds of 'seminars' 'workshops' etc. I have received one such from Visit Wiltshire with regard to the Quality Awareness Scheme. This is yet another drain on hospitality resources at a time when we need an input of funds, not an exit.
Of Course VW will argue that the cost of the seminar is more than made up for in a £60 off voucher for the NQA scheme. Trouble is of course is that even my small 9 bedroom motel would have to pay over £1000 to be fully involved in the various add on's.
This sought of fee is simply beyond many small establishments at the best of time but in the current economic climate it would be a total waste of money.
Those running our tourism promotion support systems simply have no idea of the true state of the Industry, it is about time the Government gave direct support to Local Authority Visitor information cutting out vast swathes of unnecessary duplication of resources and directly injected money into hospitality establishments to raise standards.
I for one will not be signing up to Visit Wiltshire or Visit Britain and rely on my own web marketing that costs me just £200 representing less than 2% of my generated turnover. I would suggest others who want to find a brilliant, cheap and easily self managed site, should go to www.stayinbritain.com. I highly recommend it. If you want to see the quality of the site go to www.carpentersarmsmotel.co.uk
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