Comment: “Our tourism sector deal aims for real, effective change” Steve Ridgway, British Tourist Authority page 12
Wales chiefs fears ‘devastating’ effect of a tourism tax
A Welsh tourism tax could have a “devastating effect” on businesses and mean fewer visitors, say industry bosses in Wales. Welsh ministers will decide next
year whether to ask UK ministers if they can introduce such a tax, one of four potential new taxes being considered. It could mean a small nightly charge for visitors staying in accommodation. The Wales Tourism Alliance
said this tax would be “a severe blow to our industry and its competitiveness in Wales”. Outlining its objections, the
alliance said in a statement: “The visitor to Wales already spends less in Wales (circa £29) than in England (c£34) or Scotland (c£46).
A tourism tax will deter them further. It will inevitably lead to a reduced spend when we should be encouraging it.” Thomas Scarrott, a holiday
park owner, told the BBC’s Sunday Politics Wales programme: “If it
[tourism tax] comes to Wales then it would have devastating effects, not just on the tourism industry, but on other businesses that rely on the tourism industry, pubs, shops, cafes, visitor attractions.” Pembrokeshire Tourism
estimates that tourists bring almost £600 million a year to the county but there are concerns a tourism tax could cut that income. Dennis O’Connor, tourism liaison manager at the tourism body,
told the BBC: “It will stop some people coming to Pembrokeshire on holiday if a tax is introduced. It risks the valuable economy we have, which is worth about £5 billion.”
A Welsh government spokesman
told the BBC that the power to propose new taxes was “important” and could be used to deliver “improvements for our communities”.
Excursions 2018 brings innovations to group travel show
Group travel event Excursions has unveiled a new look and has announced an enhanced visitor experience for next year’s show at London’s Alexandra Palace on January 27. A custom-designed Hambledon
British Tourism & Travel Show opens registration
Free visitor registration has opened for the British Tourism & Travel Show 2018, which returns to the NEC Birmingham (March 21-22). New exhibitors include
Royal Botanic Gardens – Kew, Belvoir Castle, Jurys Inn, Cairn Hotel Group, Bodleian Libraries, Llangollen Railway and Abbot Travel. They join returning big
names such as Albatross Travel Group, Visit Cornwall, Hilton Worldwide, Warner Leisure Hotels, Visit Lincoln, Greatdays Travel Group and Eurotunnel Le Shuttle.
tourismshow.co.uk
travelgbi.com
Vineyard Wine Bus will travel up from Hampshire giving visitors the chance to sample its English sparkling wine and discover more about its group visit programme for 2018. Tourism South East is introducing
the new Visitor Connect system, which enables visitors to keep in contact with the exhibitors they have spoken to after the show from a simple scan of their badge barcode. Exhibitors will be able to follow up
conversations by email, and visitors will receive a contact list of the exhibitors they have met. Visitors coming to the show at
the personal invitation of coach tour operators will have exclusive access to the ‘Special Guest Mary Rose Experience’, where they can join
members of the Mary Rose team in Tudor costume and explore the history of Henry VIII’s favourite ship, the mystery of its sinking and the marvel of its raising. Overnight fam trips for group
organisers on January 26 include visits to the Tower Bridge Experience, London Stadium and ArcelorMittal Orbit, with an evening meal and West End show, overnight accommodation and entry to Excursions.
excursionsshow.com
TravelGBI teams with business festival to host tourism event
TravelGBI is working with the 2018 International Business Festival to
host the Future Global Opportunities for UK Tourism conference. The conference will take place
on June 28, when the International Business Festival (June 12-28) turns the spotlight on the tourism sector. The International Business
Festival in Liverpool features 50 major events covering nine high-growth industry themes. Simon Greenbury, organiser of
Future Global Opportunities for UK Tourism, said: “Tourism has been touched on before at the
International Business Festival – mainly as it related to other sectors, for example, creative and digital – but this is the first year there has been a direct focus on the industry. I think it’s going to be really exciting. “Once we understood that there
was an opportunity for us to hold a dedicated tourism industry conference within an event that has such global reach, we jumped at the chance.” He added: “The fact that the
festival is in such a fantastic city is a real bonus too. In a way, Liverpool is the mothership for us – and for a
lot of people in the travel business. “We’re always so impressed with
how the city promotes itself as a global visitor destination, and it’s particularly great to see the strides that have been made in terms of place marketing. It’s an ideal case study really; I think the industry at large can learn a huge amount from the city.” George Clode, TravelGBI editor,
said: “Tourism is quite rightly recognised by the festival as a key, high-growth sector and will be a
crucial one in a post-Brexit world.”
internationalbusinessfestival.com
November 2017 | TravelGBI 7
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