Annex A
COMMENTS FROM THE TOURISM INDUSTRY RESPONDING TO
THE SELECT COMMITTEE'S REPORT
I was sorry and surprised to see what the CMS Select
Committee had to say about your interest in tourism. Those of
us involved in the Tourism Forum, in the Working Groups and in
the Strategic Planning Group really appreciate your interest and
involvement, particularly your concern to produce a forwardlooking
strategy for tourism, and the means of delivering it.
David Quarmby, Chairman of the British Tourist
Authority and English Tourist Board in a letter to the Secretary
of State for Culture, Media and Sport, 11 June 1998.
Over the past twenty years, I have been closely involved
with the way in which the Government has dealt with the tourism
industry. Never before has there been such a fruitful and open
dialogue between the industry and sponsoring Department. Your
own participation in the Tourism Forum, and your and your Ministers'
interest in the working groups, provides a strong basis for a
better understanding of what tourism can achieve for Britain.
It is extremely regrettable that the Select Committee Report created
such a critical impression when the reality is the opposite.
Ken Robinson, CBE, Chairman of the Tourism Society,
in a letter to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport,
11 June 1998.
British Hospitality Association Press Release,
11 June 1998
'NEVER SO MUCH INTEREST IN TOURISM'
Industry's relationship with DCMS is very fruitful.
Criticism by a Select Committee of the House of Commons
that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport takes insufficient
interest in the tourism and hospitality industry, was refuted
today by Jeremy Logie, chief executive of the British Hospitality
Association.
'From the industry's point of view, this is far from
being the case', he says.
'The industry has never received so much interest
from government and we are happy that we have built up a very
fruitful relationship with both ministers and officials in government
generally and at the DCMS in particular'.
'Nowhere have we found any indication that the Government
does not take tourism—and its wealth and job-creating potential—seriously'.
Mr Logie said that Chris Smith, Culture Secretary,
chaired the meetings of the Tourism Forum. He was personally involved
in the Forum's development and in devising the Government's new
tourism strategy, in which the industry had been fully involved.
He believed that the DCMS would be able to use its
new Tourism Strategy, and the ability to implement the strategy,
as the basis for a continuing fruitful partnership between industry
and government.
'We expect the strategy to define the respective
roles of government, national and regional tourist boards, and
industry to deliver the action plan and thus to set the course
of tourism for the future. This is something to which the industry
is firmly committed and we will be seeking an equal commitment
from the Government'.
'We will be most concerned if rumours of reduced
tourism funding are true, but the industry has been given every
opportunity so far to influence opinion through the Tourism Forum.
This is precisely what we wanted. The DCMS is playing a decisive
role in leading the industry towards a new tourism strategy. I
have no doubt that it will receive the Department's total commitment'.
He added that the industry was also pleased that,
at last, it had a Minister for tourism.
'It does not matter that he is also responsible for
film, as well. Many other Ministers are responsible for more than
one interest'.
'From our perspective, the Select Committee's comments
on tourism present an unhelpfully outof-date picture'.
Letter to the Secretary of State for Culture,
Media and Sport from Mr Michael Hirst, Chairman, Joint Hospitality
Industry Congress, 12 June 1998
I feel I must write and express my fullest support
to you, following what I consider to be uninformed and incorrect
criticisms by the Select Committee, concerning your interest and
that of your Department in Tourism and by implication Hospitality
as well.
Nothing could be further from reality. Your personal
keen involvement, coupled with the immense input from your officials,
brings a clear-sighted leadership to our deliberations. Your commitment
is immensely appreciated by myself and other leaders of the industry's
various sectors. Any perceptions to the contrary need to be corrected.
If any misconceptions do exist, we may be at fault
for not having promoted to a wider audience, the enormous impact
that our new strategy, for one of the Nation's largest and fastest
growing industries could have for the economy, jobs, let alone
the enjoyment and benefit to the broader community. Certainly
our work in progress is impressive and is deserving a higher profile
among your colleagues and those that can influence Government
priorities.
I know you are aware that apprehension does exist
about the level of resource that will be available to co-ordinate
the development of English tourism. There may be an appropriate
opportunity, through the decisions you are shortly to announce
regarding the funding of tourism structures, to refute any of
these misgivings.
If I can help in any way to set the record straight
about the invaluable support you and your Department are giving
to Tourism and Hospitality, I shall be only too pleased to do
so.
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