THE Government is
still refusing to take tourism seriously despite thousands of visitors
continuing to stay away after September 11, leading industry figures have
complained.
British Incoming
Tour Operators Association chairman Richard Tobias said tourism was “slipping
down” the Government’s agenda despite the lack of sufficient recovery.
His comments were
backed up by ABTA chief executive Ian Reynolds, who said politicians had a
“laissez-faire” attitude to the industry and were not providing enough resources.
The comments were
directed at MPs on the department of culture, media and sport committee who are
looking into tourism and the role the Government should play.
Three weeks ago,
in the first stage of the hearing, MPs criticised the merger of the British
Tourist Authority and English Tourism Council and called for the plans to be
reassessed (Travel Weekly November 11).
Tobias argued that
following foot and mouth and last year’s terrorist attacks, ministers had
recognised the importance of tourism, but now the industry was on its own
again.
But culture
secretary Tessa Jowell said millions of pounds had been made available to fund
BTA campaigns and the department was backing the BTA/ETC merger.
However, tourism
minister Kim Howells told MPs that a recent fact-finding tour of the US
revealed Americans were aware of London, but vague about the rest of the UK.
He said this
showed a failure in both overseas marketing and in attempts to get visitors out
of the capital to see the rest of the country.
The criticism of
tourism boards comes as the London Tourist Board prepares to begin a £10
million campaign to lure visitors back to the capital after warnings of
possible terrorist attacks on the underground.