NEWS
‘Tourism is a potential area of growth,’ says Sir Chris Bryant
Tourism minister insists outbound travel market is a key ‘concern’
Ian Taylor
Tourism minister Sir Chris Bryant met industry leaders last week including representatives of the outbound sector and in an interview with Travel Weekly confirmed he sees his role as extending to outbound tourism. Bryant, appointed in late
July, downplayed concerns about the level of attention he can give to travel given his multiple responsibilities, insisting he would “of course” be a voice for the industry across government departments. However, he has no plans to
for Culture (DCMS) he is also minister of state for data protection and telecoms at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. He said: “I’ve replaced two-and-
STORY TOP
a-half ministers, but I’m up for the challenge. I’m the government’s answer to the productivity problem.” Asked how much time he can devote to travel and tourism, he said: “It’s not so much a question of time as energy. I’ve got a lot of energy. I’m determined. I have the best job in government. I know it’s very broad, because I’ve got
resurrect the cross-departmental meetings of ministers set up during the Covid pandemic when Nigel Huddleston was tourism minister. Bryant has more responsibilities
than his predecessors. As well as being minister for creative industries, arts and tourism at the Department
travelweekly.co.uk
telecoms as well as arts and tourism, but that is a creative mix.” Bryant confirmed he held a
meeting last week with leaders of the inbound, domestic and outbound sectors and said: “Tourism is the fourth-biggest industry in the world. I’m conscious my role is not just about inbound tourism. I’m also concerned about outbound. It’s a
Outbound is a significant part of the industry. I want people to have a good experience overseas
significant part of the industry. “I want to make sure British
holidaymakers have a good experience when they go overseas and get back safely. I wouldn’t mind having a conversation with Spain about queues at its passport control.” He acknowledged many of the
industry’s policy demands concern the Treasury or Home Office but insisted: “We’re one government. “Our number-one mission is
economic growth. So, I can go to all the other departments and say, ‘Listen, tourism is a potential area of growth’. You could argue it’s one of our biggest earners of international
cash. So, what are we going to do to increase that, rather than limit it? “When we have the growth
mission board [meeting], we can have a tourism discussion with everybody around the table, or in the opportunity mission [meeting] we can talk about careers in tourism.” A revised Tourism Industry
Council regularly bringing industry leaders together with ministers and officials is planned. Bryant said: “We’re just working that out. I don’t need any more talking shops. I want it to be task-focused. I want things that drive change and enable growth.” He insisted: “There is quite a lot
we’re on the verge of doing. There are lots of things we would like to do. But a lot is waiting on the Budget and the [government] spending review.” He added: “Where we can help
– for example, we need to reform the apprenticeship levy – we’re going to
work on that.” i Business, back page
24 OCTOBER 2024 5
PICTURES: Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament; Shutterstock/Mistervlad
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
