Jeremy Wright MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport launches new UK Tourism Sector Deal
Rt Hon Jeremy Wright QC MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has launched the new UK Tourism Sector Deal. Whilst we in the WTA welcome this new high profile for our industry, how the deal will impact and change the industry in Wales requires further clarification, particularly in relation to the proposal to establish Tourism Zones.
With regard to the Devolved Nations, the strategy notes, 'The British Tourist Authority is the national tourist agency, responsible for marketing Britain worldwide and developing Britain's visitor economy. However, tourism is a devolved competence, as such, England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, each have their own national board responsible for attracting visitors. The UK government, where appropriate, will continue to consult the devolved governments on future work and join up on projects the devolved governments would like to partner in. There are also a number of policies outlined in this document where the competence is not devolved, most notably visas and immigration. The Skills and Hospitality Board established by the industry proposes working with all 4 nations on the skills agenda'. The Welsh Government are currently in the process of drawing up a new Wales Tourism Strategy, so it will be interesting to see how the deal will complement the resources that will ensure that the ambitions of both are realised.
A number of key ambitions have been set which include:
Ensuring that the UK will become the most accessible tourism destination in Europe by 2025 and increasing the number of international disabled visitors by 33 per cent.
Creating a new independent Tourism Data Hub. This will allow organisations to make the most of big data revolution to understand activity and product preferences in their area - and better tailor their services as a result.
Continuing to be Europe's leading hub for hotel investment for the next decade with over 130,000 additional bedrooms added to accommodation stock by 2025, with 75 per cent of these outside of London.
Introducing Tourism Zones, bringing businesses and local organisations together to establish a coordinated strategy for growth in their local visitor economy and a reduction in the impact of seasonality.
In conjunction with the Sector Deal, the UK government is also publishing an International Business Events Action Plan. The Action Plan outlines in detail how the government will support the business events industry in attracting, growing and creating international business events to further reduce the impacts of seasonality on the tourism sector.
Read the full sector deal: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tourism-sector-deal
Read the Gov.uk press release: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-announces-new-tourism-sector-deal