Minister for tourism Barbara Follett has urged the UK’s tourism bodies to make do with the resources they have rather than demanding more.
Speaking exclusively to Travel Weekly in preparation for British Tourism Week, which launches on Monday, Follett urged VisitBritain and other tourist boards charged with promoting the UK to focus on how best to spend the cash available.
She added: “What I’d really like organisations to do is to stop focusing on what they can do with the matched funding (the amount they can receive) and deal with the funding they have got.
“Tourism is incredibly well funded in this country as it is fundamental.”
The third British Tourism Week aims to raise national and international awareness of Britain’s £86 billion tourism economy.
The highlight of the week will be the Best of Britain and Ireland show, which will take place between March 26 and 29 at London’s ExCeL and is open to the public for the first time.
Coming next week: Full interview with Follett, plus Conservative shadow tourism minister Tobias Ellwood and Liberal Democrat spokesman for tourism Don Foster.