Tourist boards produce election manifesto

With just seven days to go until the general election, England's 10 regional tourist boards have produced an election manifesto for tourism. Their demands include a call to the Government to create a cabinet minister with sole responsibility for tourism. This clashes with the view of the British Hospitality Association and other leading figures in the hospitality industry, who have only Further demands from the tourist boards include: •Reduced VAT on accommodation and visitor attractions •More funds for marketing tourism in England •Compulsory inspections of accommodation - or more funds to promote existing voluntary schemes •Less red tape •Government funding for training in the industry Sir William Lawrence, chairman of the Heart of England Tourist Board and spokesman for the group of 10 tourist boards, said: "Tourism should be a powerful and influential force. "Yet until the foot-and-mouth outbreak, tourism's vital contribution to the country's wealth creation and economic wellbeing was hardly recognised. "This has been a problem for successive governments, not just the present one. "Never again must its importance be forgotton."