Conclusions and recommendations
1. Funding for the
GREAT Campaign should continue for a period that is sufficiently
long to give certainty to the industry. While all campaigns necessarily
have a limited lifetime, the GREAT Campaign shows every sign of
adapting to maintain its originality and vitality. (Paragraph
9)
2. We are concerned
that, while the LEPs undergo their period of evolution, valuable
ground is being lost in promoting tourism and securing all the
necessary improvements to enable destinations to regain a competitive
edge. The abolition of the Regional Development Agencies without
putting in place adequate arrangements for tourism promotion was
a mistake. (Paragraph 15)
3. We support the
Government's conclusion that there should be a clearer delineation
in the roles of VisitBritain and VisitEngland, with the two agencies
focusing respectively on international and domestic marketing
and promotion. (Paragraph 24)
4. VisitBritain will
continue to need adequate funding if it is to compete on the international
stage to attract more visitors to the UK. The disparity between
VisitEngland's funding and that of VisitScotland and also Visit
Wales is pronounced. With sufficient resources, we believe VisitEngland
is well placed to move more decisively into the organisational
vacuum left by the abolition of the Regional Development Agencies
and the Regional Tourist Boards. We also believe there is scope
for the Government to better coordinate the variety of funding
sources it has established. (Paragraph 31)
5. We believe there
is scope for further cooperation between VisitBritain and all
four organisations charged with promoting different parts of the
United Kingdom. It is in everyone's interest that both domestic
and international visitors gain a positive experience from everything
our country has to offer tourists, be it culture, countryside,
cities or sport. (Paragraph 37)
6. We encourage the
Government to establish joint biometric processing centres with
other European countries. (Paragraph 40)
7. The Government
should do more to make the cost of UK visas competitive, for example
by moving towards the issue to bona fide tourists of more multiple
entry, long term visas. (Paragraph 43)
8. We recommend that
Border Force staffing levels are maintained at levels that can
meet the demand posed by what we hope will be increasing numbers
of tourists. Training of Border Force staff should always factor
in the need to provide a welcoming reception to genuine tourists.
(Paragraph 47)
9. An inquiry as broadly
drawn as ours cannot consider the relative merits of the cases
put forward by Heathrow and Gatwick. We do believe, though, that
the Government should respond quickly and decisively to the Howard
Davies review once it has reached its conclusions. (Paragraph
51)
10. The Government
should review what more can be done to promote regional airports,
both as a means of making more use of existing capacity and in
terms of encouraging more visitors to the regions. (Paragraph
55)
11. Major cultural
and sporting events have an important role to play in promoting
London and the rest of the UK to the outside world, as the Grand
Départ of the Tour de France from Yorkshire and the Commonwealth
Games in Glasgow demonstrated. Even greater attention needs to
be paid to ensuring that they leave a lasting legacy, not least
in terms of the tourism economy. (Paragraph 62)
12. We agree with
the Minister that the Coastal Communities Fund should continue.
However, we would welcome a review to consider whether any successor
fund is needed and, if so, whether such a successor should have
a more focused approach, targeting key destinations in a way that
might then benefit neighbouring communities. (Paragraph 66)
13. We welcome the
start made by the National Coastal Tourism Academy in identifying
and promulgating best practice. However, an extension of its funding
is needed if it is to become a truly national resource for the
benefit of seaside resorts throughout England and the rest of
the UK. (Paragraph 71)
14. We recommend that
the Government analyses the impact of APD on the United Kingdom's
tourism industry and takes the findings into account when reviewing
this in the future. Developments in Scotland and Wales should
be monitored for their impact on England. (Paragraph 79)
15. We recommend that
the Government thoroughly assesses the merits of the claims of
the Cut Tourism VAT Campaign by performing its own modelling work
and publishes the results of this. The costs and benefits of reducing
VAT on all tourism services, together and in isolation, should
be assessed so the Treasury decision-making is fully and transparently
informed. (Paragraph 83)
16. We commend the
Minister's decision to engage with the tourism industry on the
subject of VAT. This should be the start of a thorough analysis
of the scope for cutting VAT on a variety of tourism services,
in tandem or separately. If the case for reduced VAT on at least
some tourism services is as strong as the evidence we received
suggests, then the Sport and Tourism Minister should bring all
the influence she can to bear on HM Treasury's policy development.
(Paragraph 86)
17. We further recommend
that the Government conducts a broad, public review and consultation
on tourism taxes, including VAT and APD. Where the evidence leads,
and practicalities allow, these taxes should be lowered to benefit
both tourism and the wider economy. (Paragraph 87)
18. We urge whichever
Government is in office after the General Election to take full
account of the needs of the tourism industry when reviewing business
rates. (Paragraph 89)
19. VisitEngland should
ensure that comprehensible and relevant information is provided
to tourism businesses, not only online but in public libraries
too. (Paragraph 93)
20. Too many regulations
are ill-fitted to the world of small businesses that characterise
much of the tourism industry. The Government should take forward
with greater speed the recommendations of the Penrose report,
updated as necessary. (Paragraph 101)
21. Furthermore, the
Government needs to remain vigilant in relation to European legislation
that could impact on the tourism industry, and to fully factor
in the industry's needs during negotiations with our European
partners. (Paragraph 102)
22. In view of the
potential benefits, not least to the tourism industry, of daylight
saving time, we recommend that the Government commissions a rigorous
cost-benefit analysis, including the research needed to properly
inform this. (Paragraph 106)
23. The benefits of
the accommodation grading scheme will be maximised if it is used,
at least in part, as a vehicle for providing business advice to
tourist accommodation. (Paragraph 110)
24. There is a need
for training arrangements and apprenticeships to better recognise
some of the features that make many tourism businesses unique.
These features include seasonality, scale and uncertainty in customer
demand. (Paragraph 114)
25. The Government
should also do more to inform tourism businesses of the opportunities
and funding that exist to train people, particularly young people,
for the world of work. (Paragraph 115)
26. We do not believe
the work of professional tourist guides has the widespread recognition
it deserves. We believe they should be represented on the Tourism
Industry Council, where they would be in a better position both
to promote their profession and to share the insights regular
contact with tourists provide them with. (Paragraph 118)
27. We believe tourism
should have a more visible profile in, and be more vigorously
promoted by, its sponsoring Department. (Paragraph 121)
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