NEWS IN BRIEF
w Government unveils £20m culture fund
Tourism, heritage and arts minister Michael Ellis has launched a £20 million fund for culture, heritage and the creative industries across England. Areas can bid for up to £7 million for projects to help regeneration and create jobs. The minister said: “Creativity,
culture and heritage make places special for local people and visitors alike. But it also helps attract inward investment, with businesses drawn to vibrant,
exciting towns and cities.”
gov.uk
Michael Ellis
w ‘Potentially ‘disastrous’ tax could hit Edinburgh
Prince Edward opens ‘world-class’
revamped RAF Museum London The Earl of Wessex has opened the ‘world-class’ redeveloped RAF Museum London as part of the centenary celebrations of the Royal Air Force. The transformed museum
w Tourism minister hails buoyant Birmingham
Birmingham welcomed almost 42 million visitors in 2017 – up 7% on 2016 and reaching a new record, according to figures unveiled by the West Midlands Growth Company and research body Global Tourism Solutions. The release of the figures coincided with a visit by tourism minister Michael Ellis, who saw how the Discover England Fund is supporting the ‘England’s Waterways’ project. He said: “Birmingham is one the UK’s leading destinations, with
excellent attractions and nightlife.”
visitbirmingham.com
w Ticket Factory and arenas now offer ‘social booking’
The Ticket Factory and NEC Group Arenas are offering a new ‘social’ way to purchase tickets with friends. As the official box office for the Genting Arena and Arena Birmingham, The Ticket Factory has partnered with Edinburgh- based start-up ‘make it social’ to provide a ‘Book With Friends’ service – claimed to be a first for
UK arenas.
theticketfactory.com necgroup.co.uk
travelgbi.com
features three new immersive galleries, a new learning centre, a new visitor centre including
north west London.
rafmuseum.org
New name for Shearings Leisure Group
Shearings Leisure Group, the parent of Shearings Holidays, Coast & Country Hotels and other brands, is changing its name to Specialist Leisure Group. Richard Calvert, chief executive, said the change aimed to “better reflect the breadth, depth and diversity of the group, and to
be more relevant to the trade, investment community, as well as current and potential future partnerships”.
Specialist Leisure Group has
eight brands, employs 2,600 people, operates 45 hotels and
carries 1.1 million customers.
specialistleisuregroup.com
UKinbound: Mind the language gap
UKinbound warns a growing language skills gap faces the UK tourism industry, caused by a combination of Brexit and the decline of language training. Commenting on a report
by Canterbury Christ Church University, Deirdre Wells, UKinbound chief executive, said: “This report clearly shows that the country needs leadership from the very highest levels to address this impending language crisis, to ensure the tourism industry continues to
Deirdre Wells and UKinbound members demonstrating the
value of regional tourism at the Houses of Parliament
provide world-class customer service and remains competitive
in the global marketplace.”
ukinbound.org
LONGLEAT SAFARI’S
FACT OF THE MONTH Did you know...
Lionesses do 90% of the hunting in a pride of lions
July-August 2018 | TravelGBI 9
a cafe and shop, and a new restaurant in a 1930s RAF building at the heart of the site. Visitors can test their flying
skills, explore RAF stories and sit inside a cockpit at the free- to-enter attraction in Colindale,
A “potentially disastrous” tourist tax could be implemented in Edinburgh within a year, warns UKHospitality. Leader of Edinburgh City Council, councillor Adam McVey, tweeted: “In the next 12 months our plans for a ‘tourist tax’ will be ready for implementation. While it may take longer to deliver the powers necessary to start collecting, our timeline is robust and we’ll be ready to go!” Kate Nicholls, UKHospitality
chief executive, said: “The introduction of another tax aimed at hardworking, innovative and economically and socially important hotels in Edinburgh
could be potentially disastrous.”
bha.org.uk
w Daish’s Holidays turns spotlight on ruby jubilee
Daish’s Holidays will celebrate its 40th anniversary next year, and plans a special trade showcase in October 2019 to mark the jubilee. Based at Daish’s Hotel on the Isle of Wight, the event is being organised by Steve Reed Tourism and will include familiarisation visits to popular group attractions such as Carisbrooke Castle, Osborne House and the Isle of
Wight Railway.
stevereedtourism.co.uk daishs.com
©Alan Williams
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