Memorandum submitted by The Wales Tourist
Board
The attached provides a detailed response to
the key areas of interest which have been identified by the Committee.
In more general terms, however, The Wales Tourist
Board, exercising its statutory duty to advise Government on issues
which have a bearing on tourism in Wales, makes the following
points:—
— Government at central, devolved and
local level should acknowledge the fact that tourism is now the
largest industry in the World and that if Britain and its constituent
countries are to compete in a World market then our marketing,
product development, research, service levels and price competitiveness
all have to improve at a faster rate than that of the competition.
The fact that Britain has been displaced by China from the 5th
position in the international arrivals tables clearly indicates
that this is not happening.
— Whilst Government is striving to
develop the best economic climate in which the private sector
tourism businesses can prosper, the private sector without considerable
Government support, will never deliver the required infrastructure
without which tourism cannot prosper and grow.
— Britain needs an integrated public
and private sector transport system to rival the World's best.
— Britain needs a network of regional
airports which will at the same time reduce the overcrowding in
the South East and spread the economic benefits of tourism and
business in general throughout Britain. Low cost airlines have
clearly shown that lesser known destinations can be opened up
in this way.
— The Wales Tourist Board, as chair
of the recently formed alliance Tourism UK hosted the first UK
Tourism Summit at the Celtic Manor Resort on the 7 and 8 October.
Delegates included the Chairs of the Tourist Boards for Wales,
Scotland, England and the British Tourist Authority. They were
joined by ten senior representatives of the tourism industry in
Britain and Europe. Specialist insight was provided by Henley
Forecasting, Deloitte & Touche and Stevens Associates. The
summit will produce a 10 point five year requirement which will
be presented shortly to central and devolved Governments.
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