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Message from Kurt Janson on 4th July 2016
To make a change from all the machinations over the referendum and Nigel Farages 24th resignation speech, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee has announced that they are holding an inquiry on Rural Tourism. The inquiry will focus on how the Government can support the growth of the rural economy through tourism and will be aimed at determining how:
- more people, both from the UK and abroad, can be encouraged to visit more of England’s rural places, for longer and at all times of the year;
- farmers and rural residents can be encouraged to diversify into tourism and grow their businesses;
- the needs of visitors can be are balanced with the need to preserve the environment and the character of local communities
To do this the inquiry will looks at a number of issues including:
Marketing
How well do agencies promote rural destinations across England? What more should the Government do to support this work?
Access
What, if any, changes are needed to give people better access to the coast and countryside?
Funding and fiscal policies
How can public funding be best targeted to get new rural tourist businesses off the ground and keep them going? Are changes needed to tax levels and business rates?
Planning and regulation: What, if any, changes are needed to planning and other regulations covering rural areas of special character, such as National Parks, to encourage sustainable tourism?
Infrastructure and skills
What measures are needed to ensure transport, housing and other infrastructure meets visitor needs? How can the sector ensure there are enough people with the right skills to support customers and businesses?
Local environment and character
How can national and local policies get the right balance between growing tourism and enhancing the local environment and character?
Defra role
What more should the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs do to ensure government departments (including Departments for Communities and Local Government, Business, Innovation and Skills, Culture Media and Sport and HM Treasury) support rural tourism?
The closing day for evidence on these issues is 6th September and can be sent to:
Rural Tourism Inquiry
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA
As usual, I will be putting together the Tourism Alliance evidence so if there are any issues that you would like me to incorporate, please let me know by 1 Sept 2016
Many thanks
Kurt
Kurt Janson
Director
Tourism Alliance
3 Gainsford St
London SE1 2NE
t. 020 3117 0664
m. 07946428123
e.
w. www.tourismalliance.com
Message from Kurt Janson from 1st July 2016
Following up on the Action Points from the Tourism Alliance Exec meeting on Wednesday, please find attached a link to a Survey on the impact of the Referendum on the UK tourism industry. The survey consists of 10 questions aimed at determining the consequences of the decision to leave the EU, the results of which will shape the Tourism Alliance’s discussions with Government on what actions need to be taken to support the sector.
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/KWS7G6F
The Survey will remain open for three weeks (until 21st July) with the results being presented at Tourism Alliance AGM in Parliament on 26th July to inform the discussion that will be held on the Referendum and future actions (I will send out an Agenda for this as soon as possible).
You are very welcome to send the link to your members in order for individual businesses to complete the survey.
Also attached, for your information, are copies of the letters that have been sent to the Tourism Minister and the Secretary of State regarding the Tourism Alliance’s position and the actions that we believe that the Government needs to take.
On Monday, I will send out a separate email detailing the development of the Tourism Exit Plan and how you can input into this document
If you have any queries, please let me know.
Kurt Janson
Director
Tourism Alliance
3 Gainsford St
London SE1 2NE
t. 020 3117 0664
m. 07946428123
e.
w. www.tourismalliance.com
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Message from Kurt Janson on 29th June 2016.
The Tourism Alliance Executive held a special meeting this morning to discuss the outcome of the Referendum, the impact on the UK tourism industry and agree to what actions we need to undertake as a result.
The actions that were agreed are as follows:
1. We will be writing to the Government from the Tourism Industry outlining the main issues that the Government needs to address immediately to provide support for the tourism industry. This includes:
a. Countering negative perceptions of the UK as a welcoming destination in overseas markets
b. Providing clarity that there will be no change in the current requirements for visitors to the UK for at least two years
c. Providing reassurances to the large number of overseas workings in the UK tourism industry that they are valued and their right to stay in the UK is unaffected by the referendum.
2. We will be writing to the Joint Chairs of the Tourism Industry Council to request a special meeting of the Council in order to discuss the impact and agree actions.
3. To inform the Council we will do two things:
a. Develop a Tourism Exit Strategy that lists the main tourism-related requirements of a deal with the EU
b. Undertake a survey of members on the impacts and concerns of businesses
These will two activities will be undertaken to coincide with the AGM on 26th July.
4. The agenda for the AGM on 26th will be revised to focus on a discussion of the Referendum – including a discussion of the impacts and the agreement of the draft Tourism Exit Strategy. The Tourism Statistics briefing that was planned to precede the AGM will now be held on an alternative date.
I will be emailing you separately regarding the development of the Tourism Exit Strategy and the Survey tomorrow and will update you on the letters and Agenda for the AGM as they are developed.
In the meantime, if you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let me know.
Kurt
Kurt Janson
Director
Tourism Alliance
3 Gainsford St
London SE1 2NE
t. 020 3117 0664
m. 07946428123
e.
w. www.tourismalliance.com