Jowell paves the way for new tourism legislation

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Tessa Jowell today branded tourism legislation out of date and a hindrance to development.

Speaking at the first UK National Tourism Conference at the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre in London, Jowell welcomed industry calls to review the Development of Tourism Act 1969.

Richard Caborn, minister for sport and tourism, also backed the call for reform made by the Tourism Alliance in its manifesto launched today.

Caborn told delegates: "A review of the legislation would reflect the realities of devolution, the regional development agencies and public bodies such as VisitBritain, and would be a real opportunity to get tourism to the top of the political agenda."

Jowell urged the industry to focus on improving skills, to meet "the ambitious target of driving turnover up to £100b by 2010" and to avoid plunging further into the red.

The tourism deficit (the difference between money spent by Brits going out of the country and money spent on tourism by incoming visitors) was more than £17b last year, up from £11b in 2000.

The secretary of state also announced the launch of EnglandNet, a virtual high street for English tourism, due to go live in May, which will feature only "inspected accommodation".

Finally she urged the industry to back the 2012 Olympics bid, saying: "The 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester pushed up hotel occupancy levels 6% in 2002, and revenue per room rose by 17.5% during the Games.

"It is not too late so for us to influence the outcome," she added.

by Shirley Kumar

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