WTTC welcomes UK Prime Minister's plan on new tourism strategy
Tuesday 17, August 2010
The organisation representing the world's foremost private-sector Travel & Tourism businesses, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), has welcomed the Prime Minister's promise to establish a new tourism strategy by the end of the year.
In a speech Mr Cameron said the income generated from the £115 billion-a-year tourism sector was "fundamental" to rebuilding the UK's economy. The UK is now joining Brazil and China in recognising the economic and political significance of the industry.
The Prime Minister would like to develop all Travel & Tourism industry segments, including domestic as well as foreign markets. Mr Cameron is particularly keen to attract Chinese visitors to the UK and wants to see the country among the top five destinations in the world.
"We are delighted that, in challenging economic times, the UK government has recognised the importance of Travel & Tourism," said Jean-Claude Baumgarten, WTTC President & CEO, "an industry that currently generates more than 3 million jobs or 1 in every 10 in the UK.
"It can also be one of the most effective and fastest ways of helping to kick-start the economy, recreating prosperity and increasing jobs," Baumgarten added. "This announcement comes at the right moment for the UK to take full advantage of its Olympic opportunity in 2012.
"WTTC would be happy to represent the private sector in contributing to the development of the strategy and we hope that more countries around the world will give the industry the recognition it deserves," he said.
The private sector believes a number of challenges and barriers to growth need to be addressed in the new strategy. These include expansion at Europe's largest aviation hub - which is suffering increasing competition for the title from other European airports - the need for a single European sky, visa processes and procedures, and unfair taxation.
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