🌍 Tourism Industry

• Tourism Importance and Scale: Blake Stephenson highlighted that tourism contributes £145.8 billion to the UK economy, which is 6.5% of the UK’s GDP, and supports 3.8 million jobs. He emphasized the significant presence of tourism attractions throughout the UK, from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

• Government Ambitions: The government aims to reach 50 million tourism visitors annually by 2030. Stephenson supports this target and called for the government to support local tourism economies, particularly in areas like Bedfordshire.

• Local Tourism Projects: Stephenson discussed potential tourism-boosting projects in his constituency of Mid Bedfordshire, including the Bedford to Milton Keynes waterway park and Universal Studios theme park at Kempston Hardwick, which could bring significant economic benefits and increase visitor numbers.

• Challenges and Costs: The debate touched on the rising costs of tourism, such as high visa fees and electronic travel authorisations, which have made the UK less price-competitive internationally compared to countries like the United States.

• Balancing Tourism and Local Economies: There was discussion on the need for balanced economies, particularly in regions like Cornwall, where over-reliance on tourism has led to seasonal employment issues and pressure on local infrastructure.

• Regional Highlights: MPs from across the UK highlighted unique tourism offerings in their constituencies, from Dudley’s historical and industrial attractions to the scenic beauty and outdoor recreation in Dumfries and Galloway.

• Government Support and Initiatives: The government has introduced various initiatives to support tourism, such as the tourism sector deal, and investments in skills development and apprenticeships. The Minister outlined a forthcoming national strategy and stressed the importance of improving the overall visitor experience.

• Transport Infrastructure: Connectivity and transport were recurring themes, with MPs citing the need for better rail and road networks to enhance access to tourist attractions and reduce visitor frustration.

• Community Impact and Sustainability: The importance of sustainable tourism that benefits local communities year-round, not just during peak seasons, was discussed, particularly in coastal areas like South East Cornwall.

• Hospitality and Skills: The Minister expressed a desire to elevate the hospitality industry to enhance the visitor experience, recognizing a skills and labor shortage as a challenge to be addressed.

• Cultural and Culinary Pride: The richness of the UK’s heritage, from historic sites to culinary specialties like British puddings, was celebrated as a draw for tourists.

• Brexit’s Impact: Concerns were raised about Brexit’s effect on tourism, with fears of reduced visitor numbers due to political uncertainty and increased travel costs.

• International Collaboration and Mobility: There were calls for improved international relations, such as rejoining Creative Europe and establishing youth mobility schemes, to mitigate Brexit’s impact on tourism and cultural exchanges.

The disagreement displayed in the session can be rated as a 3 on a scale of 1 to 5. This rating is justified by the following analysis and examples:

1. Explicit Disagreement on Policy Impact:
   • There were clear disagreements on the impact of Government policies on the tourism sector. For example, Sarah Bool (South Northamptonshire) expressed concerns about the Budget’s impact, particularly the increase in employer national insurance contributions and minimum wage. She argued that these policies do not support the growth of tourism businesses, suggesting a disagreement with the Government’s current approach. She stated:
     • “Many people who run tourism businesses do not feel that support, because they are worried by the Budget announcements on employer national insurance contributions and minimum wage increases, alongside the reduction in business rates. Those policies do not help them to grow.”
   • Saqib Bhatti (Meriden and Solihull East) reinforced this criticism by estimating the cost of the national insurance rise on the hospitality industry and questioning the Minister on the Government’s stance, indicating a divergence in views on the financial support for businesses.
     • “It is estimated that the hospitality industry will incur an extra £1 billion-worth of costs for 774,000 workers who will be newly eligible for employer national insurance in April when the Chancellor’s tax rises kick in.”
2. Disagreement on Brexit’s Impact:
   • Sarah Olney (Richmond Park) highlighted Brexit’s negative impact on tourism, citing a survey where respondents identified political uncertainty and post-Brexit cost increases as deterrents to visiting the UK. This contrasts with the Government’s position, which focuses on other aspects of tourism development without directly addressing Brexit’s impact.
     • “Around 60% of respondents identified political uncertainty as a deterrent, and around 45% cited potential increases in post-Brexit travel and accommodation costs.”
3. General Critiques and Suggestions:
   • Several members, while supportive of the Government’s ambition to increase tourism to 50 million visitors by 2030, offered critiques and suggestions indicating disagreement with current strategies. Blake Stephenson (Mid Bedfordshire) suggested a need for more focus on price competitiveness and a more cohesive national and local strategy.
     • “We need to make the UK more attractive to visitors at home and abroad, and less attractive as a source of revenue for the Treasury or local authorities.”
   • Similarly, Saqib Bhatti’s call for an impact assessment on the Budget’s effect on tourism reflects a lack of clarity and potential disagreement with how the Government is measuring its impact on the industry.
4. Agreement on Overall Goals but Divergence on Means:
   • While there was a broad consensus on supporting the tourism sector and celebrating its importance, there was a clear divergence on how to achieve these goals. The disagreement primarily centered around the effectiveness of current Government strategies and policy impacts, rather than the ultimate goal of boosting tourism.
   • The Minister responded to these points by acknowledging challenges and outlining plans for a national strategy and support measures, yet did not directly address some of the criticisms raised, such as the specific impact of national insurance increases on the sector.

In conclusion, the disagreements in the session were significant enough to warrant a rating of 3. They were focused primarily on policy impacts and strategies for supporting the tourism industry, indicating a moderate level of contention while still maintaining a general consensus on the importance and potential growth of tourism in the UK.