Your letters


The government’s decision to ignore outbound tourism in its tourism strategy, saying it is “not a huge priority”, has left many doubting the clarity of its long-term vision


I run an exclusively outbound tour operating business that takes UK


travellers to poorer countries that are reliant on our visitors. To ignore outbound tourism is short-sighted


in many ways, as is making it more prohibitive by imposing huge taxes that consumers need to pay just to walk onto an aircraft in the UK. Many UK travellers now fly long-haul from


European airports instead. Lynda Woodin


managing director, About U Travel


The government’s plans raise the question of whether the UK


hospitality industry is up to the challenge. Tour operators are good at driving standards up and there has been progress in Spain and Greece over the past 20 years, but it also has to happen here. The problem is many UK hotels suffer from a touch of arrogance, believing they are better than their foreign counterparts. For Spain, Greece and Turkey, tourism is a driving force in their economy and is taken seriously. They understand the impact poor standards can have on visitor numbers. The UK has to adopt the same mindset before it can begin to compete with overseas resorts.


Steve Tate chairman, Check Safety First travel trade gazette


uk & ireland edition Issue 2950


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This approach doesn’t make sense – if the government wants to encourage


people to holiday at home, then why are Tourist Information Centres in many major tourist hotspots to close? All Isle of Wight Council-operated Tourist Information Centres will close on March 31. Meanwhile, the future of three centres in Durham are in the balance. How can a Unesco World Heritage Site


survive without centrally located Tourist Information Centres staffed by experts? I think someone has got this issue seriously


wrong. Denise Hanson partner, Hanson Travel Worldchoice


There are many implications as a result of this government’s policies.


I am a teacher of travel and tourism and am


training the next generation of travel agents and tour operators, but the government’s education policy is removing funding from applied learning courses. This is very short-sighted, and we will soon


have a shortage of young people with the basic knowledge needed to enter the apprenticeships the government wants to expand.


Gill Foster teacher, Bullers Wood School, Kent


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Just talking to customers can lead to incredible upselling


I am a homeworker, but when I was working on the high street I had a lady come in just before closing time one day looking for a UK spa break (TTGMarch 4). While I was looking for her spa break we were talking about places I had visited across the world. She ended up booking a two- night UK spa break, but as she liked the sound of where I had been she also booked 14 nights in Mexico and a cruise up the Panama Canal!


Cathy Howard personal travel advisor, Holiday Experts


Harry Goodman is right about Egypt and agents specialising


I specialise in Egypt and am suffering from recent events, but am hopeful it will become a massive player again (TTGMarch 4). It’s a super commodity for beaches, sightseeing and cruise, and I get minimal complaints about it. Even now customers come back with positive feedback. Harry is right about beating the web too. Specialist products would mean clients will know that their holiday wasn’t just booked for a profit, but to suit them and their needs.


Josie Doyle personal travel advisor, Holiday Experts


WHAT DO YOU THINK? The deadline for letters is 10am on Tuesday. We need your name, job title and company address. Please limit letters to 250 words maximum. We reserve the right to edit. Email: ttgletters@ttglive.com


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26 11.03.2011


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