06/01/2011

PM Looks To Future Of Tourist Trade

The UK's tourism industry has received high-level praise this week as Prime Minister David Cameron has spoken of the "magnificent" response from the British tourist industry to create a marketing fund of more than £100 million.

The PM challenged the industry to create a marketing fund to boost tourism around the royal wedding, The Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Despite the scenes of chaos at Heathrow and Gatwick airports when snow stranded thousands of tourists just before Christmas, the industry has now sought a new direction in 2011 in a four-year marketing campaign.

It aims to bring in an extra one million overseas visitors a year, two billion more in visitor spending in the UK and create 50,000 new jobs across the country.

Companies including British Airways, DFDS (ferries), lastminute.com, P&O and Radisson Edwardian have pledged cash and payment in kind to help match the £50 million of public money already committed by national tourism agency, VisitBritain.

At a Reception in Downing Street to thank those already involved, the PM said: "I challenged British businesses to help us put together the best tourism marketing campaign ever for Britain - something that will make us the must-see destination for visitors from new growth markets in Asia and Latin America, as well as core ones like Europe and the USA.

"The response has been magnificent, with pledges of cash and kind from companies that look set to push us well beyond our initial target."

(BMcC/GK)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

19 July 2004
Jowell's tourism plans to create £100bn-a-year industry
Plans to transform tourism into a £100 billion-a-year industry have been outlined by the Culture Secretary today.
20 April 2009
Building Britain's Future - New Industry, New Jobs
A strategic plan to invest in Britain's economic and industrial future was launched by the Government today.
17 January 2014
Rolls-Royce To Cut Two Hundred Jobs
Two hundred jobs are to be cut at the Rolls-Royce aerospace plant in Renfrewshire. The company blamed challenging marketing conditions for the job cuts when it told staff on Thursday of the cuts. Some work as already been transferred out of the plant while the company reviews its supply chain.
20 June 2012
Nike UK Has Twitter Campaign Banned By ASA
A Twitter campaign by Nike has been banned, after the advertising watchdog decided that its use of the personal accounts of footballers Wayne Rooney and Jack Wilshere broke rules for not being clear that they were adverts.
02 April 2004
Businesses get option to block 'cold calling' marketers
From June this year UK businesses will get the same right as individuals to block 'cold calling' by marketing firms under a new measure announced today. The move comes in response to concerns expressed by small businesses that they do not have the resources to cope with high volumes of cold calls.