BRINGING England marketing alongside British Tourist
Authority campaigns will create conflicts of interest and lead to confusion,
according to a group of influential MPs.
A cross-party committee of MPs slammed plans to merge
the British Tourist Authority and the English Tourism Council, saying the
proposals would alienate the Scottish and Welsh tourist bodies and leave
England without true independence when promoting its tourism. There was also
concern the BTA and ETC do not agree with the Government’s plans.
Labour’s Derek Wyatt, sitting on the department for
culture, media and sport committee, said: “This is a confused approach and is
rubbish. The decision should be revisited.”
Liberal Democrat Viscount Thurso, Tourism Society
president, said: “It doesn’t have a cat in hell’s chance of working. The BTA
did not wish for this and it has taken the ETC by surprise.”
He said the body was creating nothing for England and
was simply pushing two organisations together. Committee chairman Gerald
Kaufman described the plans as “depressing”.
However, BTA chairman David Quarmby and chief
executive Tom Wright, who will head up the new body, defended culture secretary
Tessa Jowell’s decision. “I foresee no major problems with the new body. It was
unexpected, but we can manage any conflict of interest,” Quarmby told the
committee.
He added future funding for the joint organisation
will be unveiled shortly and a new name is also expected to replace BTA and
ETC.
ETC chairman Alan Britten confirmed Jowell’s move was
not his recommendation.
The plans were also attacked
by VisitScotland and the Wales Tourist Board.