Tourism Consultation Report

Tourism Consultation Report

Adrian asked local tourism businesses three questions:

1. If you were Prime Minister for the day, what three things would you propose to help run tourism in Torbay?
2. If you could run Torbay Council for a day, what three things would you change to assist the industry?
3. If you could tell every other business locally what they should do, what would be your top three commands?

Torbay businesses identified a number of concerns and offered a range of interesting solutions and ideas:

·    TRANSPORT

When asked what they would do if Prime Minister for a day, respondents claimed that their first task would be to fix Torbay’s failing transport network.  

Whilst the most common complaint was delays in the building of the Kingskerswell Bypass, there were wider concerns over train scheduling, railway station facilities, and town centre parking.

Adrian commented:

“Our underdeveloped transport links are a significant barrier, discouraging tourist visitors from the UK and overseas.  I have continually lobbied the Department for Transport and the South West Regional Development Agency to prioritise the building of the Kingskerswell Bypass, and transport issues remain high on my agenda”.

Many people expressed their concern at a lack of direct and convenient rail links to the Bay.  Adrian has fought proposed cuts to rail services west of Exeter, lobbying the Department of Transport and tabling a Parliamentary Motion to raise awareness of the issue.

• BED TAX

Tourist operators and hoteliers in the Bay have told Adrian of their opposition to the potential implementation of a costly ‘bed tax’.

Adrian expressed his sympathy with their concerns.  He said:

“Huge deregulation is needed in the sector if we are going to be able to compete with continental destinations.  VAT burdens are already 10% higher than in many European countries.

“I am lobbying the Government to warn them about the damage they would be doing to tourist economies like Torbay if they land local businesses with this cumbersome and ill-thought-out tax burden.  I have written a letter to the Lyons Enquiry, mirroring the concerns of those who responded to the consultation”.

• PROMOTION

In response to letters to the consultation, Adrian has promised to continue to fight for greater Government promotion of UK tourism.

Adrian began by taking concerns directly to Tony Blair, in the first Prime Minister Question Time of the new Parliamentary session.

The PM promised that tourism was a “vital priority” for his Government.

Adrian commented:

“Whilst the Government’s actions will speak louder than their words on this issue, this represented an excellent opportunity to keep some of the problems affecting Torbay tourism firlmy on the agenda”.

Adrian has been pressuring the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to raise the profile of the UK destinations at home and abroad.  Recently, Adrian has challenged the Government over the success of the VisitBritain and EnglandNet services, exposing waste and mismanagement.

Adrian also encouraged local operators to embrace ‘new media’ and means of promoting their businesses.  He added:

“Like in any sector, tourism is increasingly competitive, and operators have to be prepared to update their promotional tools in order to engage new audiences and attract potential customers”.

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If you would like a copy of Adrian’s full Tourism Consultation Report, or to be kept up to date with issues affecting tourism in the Bay:

Call: 020 72192390

E-mail: orr-ewinga@parliament.uk

Or write to Adrian at: House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA.