News

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.