In UK, John Whittingdale has been appointed Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport and Tracey Crouch named the new Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Sport and Tourism.
James Berresford, Chief Executive of VisitEngland said, “This renewed government commitment to supporting tourism is welcome indeed and I look forward to working together to support the development of world-class product right here at home, and to ensure our dynamic domestic tourism industry, worth £106bn to the economy, supporting 2.6m jobs, continues to grow.”
“The product on offer in England has undergone a staggering transformation in recent years. Holidays at home have proved extremely popular and people have rediscovered the fantastic places on offer right on their doorstep. While we know that domestic holidays generate very high levels of satisfaction, and there is without doubt further scope to grow this market, we cannot afford to be complacent.”
“Now is the time to harness and develop our strengths and to build on the rise in domestic breaks we have seen over the past 5 years. It is vital that our tourism offer remains competitive to protect our industry in a very competitive market, and to counterbalance the slowdown in domestic trip-taking we’ve seen in 2014, and the corresponding increase in overseas travel by British residents.”
“England has an amazing range of tourism assets. Through innovation, by adapting to emerging trends - whether social, digital, economic or otherwise – and by creating unforgettable experiences that will keep visitors coming back year after year.”
