‘You only have yourselves to blame’

Tourism minister accuses inbound industry of ‘throwing in the towel’ in times of crisis

Up for discussion: from left, Reynolds, Howells, Labour MP for Blackpool South Gordon Marsden and Tobias debate industry issues at the Labour Party Conference

‘You only have yourselves to blame’

Report by BELINDAGANNOWAY

OUTSPOKEN tourism minister Kim Howells has criticised the UK travel trade for a second time, claiming operators are too quick to throw in the towel in times of trouble.

The controversial politician – who refused last month to give the struggling inbound market extra Government cash to help it weather the crisis causedby the US terrorist attacks – said the industry only had itself to blame for its current plight.

“There are examples of excellence, but too many other examples of an industry that hasn’t upped its game for far too long,” he said.

Speaking at an ABTA-sponsored fringe meeting at last week’s Labour Party conference in Brighton, Howells said he did not want to get involved in a “new battle” with the incoming trade. But he went on to criticise the industry for a lack of training, poverty of imagination and lack of investment. Howells said UK resorts were falling behind the competition.

The minister continued his assault on accommodation providers by complaining of the poor service and standards in many hotels. He said they fell behind vast chunks of the hospitality industry and insisted current problems couldn’t be laid at the Government’s door alone.

“Don’t let anyone think this is a one-way neglect,” he said. “This is a two-way neglect and the biggest poverty we have is a poverty of aspiration. Too many resorts throw in the towel and assume people aren’t interested in visiting them.”

Last month, the Government refused to give the British Tourist Authority extra cash to market the UK abroad in the wake of the US attacks. Howells said he wanted to see how the BTA spent the £10 million it had remaining from the £14.2 million handed over following the foot and mouth crisis.

Responding to Howells’ remarks, British Incoming Tour Operators Association chief executive Richard Tobias said: “I won’t accept that most of the industry is not investing, most of it is.”

British Hospitality Association chief executive Bob Cotton said Howells’ comments also applied to other sectors.

“There’s a lack of investment in Britain as a whole, including in roads and railways – and that impacts on tourism,” he said.