Heritage Tourism

The HHA welcomed the publication of the Government’s Tourism Policy which recognised the vital contribution of the tourism industry to Britain’s economy and recovery, and committed the Government to create the framework for tourism to achieve its potential. We welcomed confirmation of a four-year match funded global marketing programme to take advantage of the opportunity of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the 2012 Olympic Games, to showcase Britain and attract new international visitors but we felt that the figure of £12.5m per year was low when compared with the UK’s competitors.

The HHA supported the shift to public/private tourism marketing and management partnerships focused on destinations and holiday themes, following the cessation of RDA funding which delivered a significant blow to the industry. However, these partnerships will take time to create and transitional funding alluded to by the Government in early 2011 has yet to materialise. We also welcomed the role of VisitEngland in supporting both these partnerships and individual tourism businesses.

We strongly welcomed the commitment to reformulate the rules on brown signs and look forward to the development of  a national policy to use signs actively to  support tourist destinations.

The HHA welcomes the Tourism Taskforce's Report,  Smart Regulations and Economic Growth:  Seizing the Tourism Opportunity, which has made over 50 recommendations which stifle tourism businesses to be abolished, consolidated or reviewed.