UK: The Prime Minister has announced the UK’s first-ever Tourism Sector Deal today (28 June), reaffirming the UK’s global role as a key player in the industry.
The deal will revolutionise the way data is used by the sector, through the creation of a new Tourism Data Hub. The hub will collate regularly updated data showing the latest trends and spends, allowing businesses to better target overseas visitors.
It will also support the creation of an additional 10,000 apprenticeships for people building their careers in the tourism and hospitality sectors.
Last year, around 38 million people visited the UK and contributed £23 billion to the local economy, while by 2025 experts predict that there will be an additional nine million visitors to the UK. The deal commits to building an additional 130,000 hotel rooms to respond to the increased demand for infrastructure.
The deal also outlines the government’s ambitions for the UK to become the most accessible destination for disabled visitors, through improvement of disabled facilities and access to destinations across the country.
Prime Minister Theresa May said: “As one of the most visited countries in the world, the UK is a world leader in international tourism, and it is crucial that we remain globally competitive to meet growing demands.
“That’s why today I am pleased to announce the UK’s first ever tourism sector deal, ensuring that we continue to innovate, boost connectivity and economic productivity, expand career pathways and breakdown barriers for visitors with disabilities.
“This deal recognises the important role tourism plays, and will continue to play, in showcasing what our great country has to offer,” she added.
Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright said: “Today we have set out our vision for the future of UK tourism – a commitment to an industry that is vital for the prosperity of our communities, our businesses and our economy.
“The UK is one of the world’s greatest destinations and this deal recognises the importance of maximising our natural assets. We are dedicated to supporting life-long careers for those that work in tourism, offering insightful data to help grow businesses and ultimately creating a better visitor experience throughout the UK,” he added.
Business Secretary Greg Clark said: “Tourism is one of our most valuable industries and it plays a vital role in our economy, with nearly two million people employed in the communities across the country and £23 billion spent by visitors in the UK last year.
“As part of today’s ground-breaking deal, new tourism zones will deliver a direct boost to holiday destinations across the country, helping create new jobs as well as supporting improvements in transport connections.
“This is one of the many ways in which the deal will be key in building a world-class experience economy, helping us deliver on the ambition we set out in our modern industrial strategy; government and industry working hand-in-hand to build on our exceptional strengths in this sector, boosting productivity and further increasing the UK’s attractiveness as a holiday destination,” he added.
Other commitments in the Tourism Sector Deal include:
• More than 130,000 new hotel rooms are set to be built across the UK, with 75 per cent being built outside of London.
• £250,000 to improve broadband connectivity in conferences centres across the UK for business visitors.
• Pilot of up to five new tourism zones to drive visitor numbers across the country. Zones will receive government support for growing their local visitor economy, through initiatives like targeted support for product and promotion development, mentoring support to businesses and digital skills training.
• 10,000 employees in the sector to benefit from new mentorship schemes.
• A new government strategy to grow the number of business events and conferences, helping to drive off-season visitors.
Developed in partnership with the British Tourist Authority and Industry, the sector deal forms part of the UK Government’s modern industrial strategy supporting the continued growth of the tourism sector, ensuring the UK remains globally competitive as a top tourist destination.
British Tourist Authority chair Steve Ridgway CBE said: “This sector deal is a game-changer for tourism, one of the UK’s most valuable export industries, spelling a step-change in how we underpin the success of tourism for a generation, moving it to the top table as a leading industry for the UK Government’s future economic planning.
“It is a game-changer for the economy, growing the value of the industry and employment in tourism, fixing issues from skills and productivity to extending the season year-round, building stronger tourism destinations up and down the country and developing world-class experiences for domestic and international visitors.
“Tourism is one of the most fiercely competitive global industries and this deal ensures we can continue to compete internationally as a top destination for visitors, driving major economic growth across the whole of the UK,” he added.
Jeremy Sanders, head of UK at OYO, said: “It’s fantastic to see the government recognising the tourism sector’s hugely important contribution to our national prosperity and supporting future growth.
“The UK hospitality sector is one of the most vibrant and exciting in the world – but it’s also one of the most sophisticated and challenging, especially for smaller, independent players. We need to make sure they can capitalise on the opportunities too – whether through investment, technology, knowledge sharing or inspiring the next generation of independent hoteliers,” he added.
To access the full Travel Sector Deal document, visit the website here.
