ABTA has issued a manifesto urging the government to support all three sectors of the industry – domestic, outbound and inbound – in order to maximise its benefit to the UK economy. Valuing the UK's Tourism Mix, presented to parliament last week, outlines four policy priorities:

• Strategic infrastructure support; 
• Creating a more competitive product; 
• Good regulation for confident customers and businesses; 
• Promoting the industry as a key employer.

The paper states new airline connections with the emerging BRIC markets should be encouraged, but warns healthy inbound and outbound markets are required to justify new routes.

The document also puts forward suggestions for new runways at Heathrow and Gatwick, reduced departure taxes, shorter queues at border control, support for SMEs, marketing the UK abroad, and investing in training and skills.

Government Tourism Policy

“I believe no other country can offer such rich history, wonderful culture, or stunning countryside, and it’s important we showcase to the world the amazing range of attractions and experiences this country offers.”

In his first keynote speech, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has set out the Government’s tourism policy which would promote tourism to the UK by producing ‘the best marketing plan that any country has ever had’ and using the 2012 Olympics as a springboard to launch a lasting tourism legacy.

Read the full transcript of the speech here...

Tourism Report

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee is appointed by the House of Commons to oversee the expenditure, administration and policy of the DCMS, which is the government department responsible for UK sport and cultural projects in the UK. The DCMS provides VisitBritain with funding for marketing the UK abroad. The Committee has recently published a report which voices their concerns on the quality of support provided by DCMS to VisitBritain and in particular their decision to reduce future funding to VisitBritain. The proposal to introduce 'double British summer time' is also discussed as well as other issues regarding tourism in the UK including the Olympics 2012. For further clarification, here's another document which sets out the details of the funding agreement between DCMS and VisitBritain.