TOURISM is set to be the latest industry to come under
the Government’s controversial public/private partnership plans.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is putting
the final touches to a demand for more cash to boost tourism funding, but it
accepts the partnership plan will be raised by the Treasury.
Tourism minister Kim Howells is lobbying the
Chancellor to rectify the ‘mistake’ of taking away the English Tourism
Council’s marketing budget.
He is also asking for extra funds for tourism following
the double blow of foot and mouth and September 11.
In an exclusive interview with Travel Weekly, Howells
said: “I fully expect the Treasury to raise the issue of the partnership plan
when we submit our funding request.
“This could involve private businesses such as
amusement parks or hotels meeting the Government funding.”
The partnership plan is highly contentious as it
brings the private sector into areas that have been traditionally funded by the
state, such as the London Underground and the National Health Service.
The Government argues private money and business
expertise can help financially strapped sectors, but opponents say profits will
be put before service and safety.
Howells and Secretary of State for Culture, Media and
Sport Tessa Jowell told Travel Weekly that the ETC’s lack of budget was a
central part of a new bid for extra Government funds for tourism.
“It was a mistake to take away England’s marketing
budget. We could hear this week if the Treasury will give us money to reinstate
it,” said Howells.
Another major plank in the department’s demands to the
Treasury is for extra money for research and legal advice to complete an
overhaul of the UK’s outdated licencing laws, which harm the country’s image
abroad.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is
desperate to get the licencing laws changed in the Queen’s November speech to
Parliament so they could be implemented by summer 2003.