In June 2019 the Government announced a Tourism Sector Deal. This is a game-changer for tourism, spelling a step-change in how we underpin the success of tourism for a generation, moving it to the top table as a leading industry for the UK Government’s future economic planning.
This deal is testament to what can be achieved by working in partnership and we would like to thank all of you who have been involved. It represents more than two years of hard work, commitment and determination from the tourism industry which came together with one voice, getting behind the bid to build consensus on ideas for the future and offering commitments that align with the five key pillars of the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy.
Ideas - encouraging the UK to be the world's most innovative economy: create a Tourism Data Hub, to better understand visitor preferences
People - ensuring good jobs and greater earning power for all
Create an additional 10,000 apprenticships starts a year
Invest £1 million in recruitment and rentention programme
80% of workforce to receive in-work training
Develop 2 new T-Levels
10,000 employee mentorsips a year
Infrastructure – driving a major upgrade in the UK's infrastructure
Develop an additional 130,000 bedrooms by 2025
Joint working to ensure support for the Government’s ambition to make the UK the most accessible tourism destination in Europe by 2025 and increase the number of international disabled visitors by a third.
Places- supporting place based solutions and boosting productivity across the UK with 5 Tourism Zones
Business environment - guaranteeing the best palce to start and grow a business
Make the UK the leading destination for business events in Europe
The Tourism Sector Deal represents more than two years of hard work, commitment and determination from the tourism industry which came together with one voice. The below details the journey we took to reach the deal.
In answer to the ask by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Jeremy Wright the industry came together to build consensus on ideas for the future and offering commitments that align with the five key pillars of the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy. Read how tourism will deliver against the five pillars.
In November 2018, the Government announced they will be entering into an official negotiation with the tourism industry for a tourism sector deal, to attract more domestic and overseas visitors and help drive major economic growth.
Recognising the tourism industry as one of the UK’s most successful exports, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Jeremy Wright called upon the industry to respond with a renewed commitment to promote its offer throughout the year, not just in the peak summer months, and increase clear career paths.
The sector was asked to look at the key themes of:
In September 2017, the Tourism Industry Council signed off on the following priorities:
VisitBritain pulled together the formalised submission document (PDF 14.5KB). Whilst not every idea was included in the process, Steve Ridgway was clear that there are a number of key areas that the Government needs to continue to understand and these are areas that may well be taken forward separately.
In January 2017, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy published an Industrial Strategy green paper. At the February Tourism Industry Council, a group set up to collaborate between government and the tourism industry, an agreement was reached that the tourism sector would push for a Tourism Sector Deal. The bid was led by Steve Ridgway CBE, former CEO of Virgin Atlantic and current hotel owner, an industry leader and expert, in line with other sector deals. The bid was facilitated by VisitBritain/VisitEngland who helped the industry pull together its proposals.
As part of the industry-led process, the government stipulated that those sectors with the broadest reach, and ability to speak with “one voice” are the likeliest to achieve a sector deal. We reached out in particular to the 200,000+ small businesses in all the sectors that make up our vibrant tourism industry. More than 450 businesses and organisations fed into a consultation process to help shape the final outcomes of the submission.
Read the announcement from the Prime Minister
The British Tourist Authority is the national tourist agency, responsible for marketing Britain worldwide and developing Britain’s visitor economy. However, tourism is a devolved competence, as such, England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales each have their own national board responsible for attracting visitors. The UK government, where appropriate, will continue to consult the devolved governments on future work and join up on projects the devolved governments would like to partner in.
There are also a number of policies outlined in this document where the competence is not devolved, most notably visas and immigration. The Skills and Hospitality Board established by the industry proposes working with all four nations on the skills agenda.
