UKinbound has welcomed the Chancellor’s 2018 Spring Statement which contains several policies that will have a positive effect on the UK’s tourism industry, which in 2017 attracted an estimated 37 million visitors and generated over £22 billion for the UK economy.
The policies include:
Building of new homes which will help to alleviate the lack of affordable housing in the UK – a reason that many EU employees (which the tourism industry heavily relies upon) have cited as a key reason for returning home
Improved transport in English cities which will help to encourage tourists to visit and further explore England’s cities, likely resulting in increased tourist spending
Digital connectivity – more reliable broadband will help rural tourism businesses to connect and market their businesses more effectively to visitors
APD consultation in Northern Ireland – this consultation provides the tourism industry with a further opportunity to demonstrate the positive impact of abolishing APD and VAT on tourism businesses in Northern Ireland
Chief Executive Deirdre Wells said, “I am encouraged by today’s Spring Statement which included several policies that directly impact on the UK’s tourism industry. These include improving England’s transport links, digital connectivity and consulting on the impact of Air Passenger Duty and VAT.
“Affordable housing has also been highlighted by a number of our members as a reason their EU employees are starting to return home, so we are encouraged that the Government is ‘getting on with the job’ of building more affordable homes, which should help encouraged skilled EU workers – that our industry heavily relies on – to stay in the UK post-Brexit.
“It is also encouraging that a review has been confirmed into the impact of APD and VAT on tourism in Northern Ireland. Along with our tourism partners, we will be calling on all those in the industry to submit evidence they have that demonstrates its negative impact.”
