Memorandum submitted by Tourism South
East
INTROUDCTION TO
TSE
Tourism South East is a Company Limited by Guarantee
formed from the merger of the South East England and Southern
Tourist Boards in 2003. We are a not-for-profit enterprise, acting
as the regional tourism agency for tourism, working closely with
our public sector and commercial partners in the region. We are
funded by grants from the regional development agency (SEEDA)
and from membership subscriptions from 58 Local Authorities and
from 2,000 Commercial Members. Part of our remit is to act as
a the voice of tourism for the region.
SUMMARY OF
MAIN POINTS
Our submission is fairly brief, though backed
up with appendices (not printed here) should the committee
wish to consider these in more detail:
1. Research suggests that the main economic
benefit from holding the Olympics is to be derived from the tourism
sector. Evidence sourced by Visit Britain estimates that 50-75%
of the income generated from recent Games has come from tourism
growth.
2. The UK is poorly placed to capitalise
on this with patchy funding and poor integration. Despite the
fact that tourism generates turnover of £75 billion pa and
supports close to two million jobs, the Government is equivocal
about the value of the sector:
— Funding for VisitBritain has not
been increased since 1997, and we are informed that they face
a potential funding cut of 7% for next year. This is at the time
when critical investment work in overseas markets needs to be
actioned so that the country is able to harvest the benefits in
2012 and beyond. This is short-sighted.
— The South East region, being next
to London has the most to offer to visitors regarding the Olympics.
However, due to regional funding policies we have significantly
lower resources. Funding tends to prop up smaller tourism economies
rather than invest in the tourism engine-rooms. Appendix 3 (not
printed here) shows the effect of regional policy on tourism
funding. The measure of investment per head of population employed
in tourism is instructive.
3. There is an opportunity to boost high-value
business and conference tourism to the UK in the next four to
five years prior to the games. It is important for the SE region
that up-dated facilities are provided in Brighton without delay.
London also needs a new facility. The Conferences and Meetings
industry is international in nature, and we are not competing
effectively with overseas alternatives.
4. Some believe that it is unlikely that
the Quality Assurance targets suggested by DCMS will be achieved
in the timescales. Some of our partners believe that serious consideration
should be given to statutory registration of accommodation to
ensure that a minimum standard is achieved in order to trade.
This does not mean statutory grading or assessment which could
remain voluntary. There are early indications that web-based information
is superseding the need for formal classification and grading
systems.
5. As the South East is a region of entry
to the UK (Ports, Airports and the Channel Tunnel) we are concerned
to ensure that the infrastructure, entry systems and procedures,
and the quality of the welcome are all first class. We cannot
say this at the moment.
6. In general the SE has a deficit of infrastructure
investment, especially in transportation, which could be improved
given the stimulus of the Games.
7. In most circumstances the expertise generated
around a big event like the Olympic Games evaporates after the
closing ceremony. We would like to see some effort made to retain
expertise and bid for other major international events. TSE and
Sport England SE have recently launched a Major Sports Events
Strategy and appointed a co-ordinator to attract significant events
to the region.
8. Local government in the SE is concerned
to ensure that the 2012 Games live up to their promise to be the
"green games". Attached as Appendix 2 (not printed
here) is a paper provided to us by West Sussex County Council,
which illustrates the issues for local Authorities and their main
priorities. (Please not that this part of the submission is confidential
unless advised by WSCC).
9. Skills are a key issue to ensure that
the South East can gain a lasting legacy from the Games:
— Inspiring young people: We are working
to ensure that young people (particularly those currently aged
14-19, who will be 19-24 come 2012) have the opportunity to develop
skills relevant to the tourism industry/visitor economy sector
and understand the potential of a career in this field.
— Skills for business: Coordinated
activity to address tourism related skills would maximise the
potential tourism related benefits that DCMS recognise. We would
highlight the potential of "Welcome Host" to support
the development of customer service skills, so critical to this
area.
— Action for communities: There may
be potential to engage people in supporting local visitor attractions
through volunteering. We should encourage this and promote skills
development and employment opportunities to these volunteers.
This may be a useful mechanism for targeting individuals who may
not respond to more traditional learning and employment opportunities.
10. TSE is responsible for the national
Welcome Host programme of customer care training. We are working
closely with British Colombia (the venue of the 2010 Winter Olympics
to ensure consistency of customer service to international standards.
Appendix 4 (not printed here) gives more information about
Welcome Host.
11. We do not expect the 2012 events themselves
to generate huge amounts of additional business for the South
East region, largely due to the effect of substitution, except
in a number of transport corridors which offer fast transit to
the main venues. These are:
— The Kent corridor centred on the
new high-speed rail links;
— The M23 corridor, including Gatwick;
— The Surrey/North Hampshire, East
Berkshire and Southern Buckinghamshire arc; and
— The area around Eton Dorney for the
canoeing and rowing events.
12. The larger gain will be from re-positioning
the Britain brand as a whole and London and the SE in particular,
in the media and reaping the benefits over the 2008 to 2016 period.
We expect 80% of the long-term benefit to accrue to London, 10%
to the SE, and 10% to the rest of the country.
5 October 2006
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