CEO Joss Croft has responded to the Chancellor’s Spring Statement:
“Todays’ Spring Statement brings some small positives for inbound tourism – a sector that is worth more than the UK’s vehicle export and oil export industries. The fuel price reduction and national insurance allowance increase will help the bottom lines of some – but not all – of our members, and both the management and apprenticeship training subsidies will help address some of the skills shortages facing the sector. We are also pleased with the positive steps taken toward helping the UK become a more accessible and sustainable destination.
“We welcome the new temporary 50% business rates relief for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, but it is imperative that the eligibility criteria includes all tourism businesses in the whole supply chain if the sector is to provide a world-class welcome and experience for international visitors during this Jubilee year.
As the second round of the Levelling Up Fund is launched, we urge Government to recognise and capitalise on the recovery opportunities that inbound tourism, the UK’s second largest service export industry, can bring to our economy. Through bringing in vital new export money and creating thousands of jobs in all corners of the UK, our sector has played a crucial role in supporting the country’s economic recovery after past global crises and there is no reason why it can’t do so again – as long as the right policies are in place. We need to see more fiscally smart policies that will bring a surplus to the exchequer, such as the reintroduction of VAT Free Shopping and a more accessible and competitive visa scheme. We also need a major boost in the promotion of the UK abroad as a safe and welcoming destination to encourage would-be visitors to come and spend their money here.”
