COMMENT: A Minister for Tourism.
Air and Business Travel News admits that it got it wrong. There is a minister for tourism (see last week”s COMMENT), but of such a low profile that the sleuths in the ABTN news team were not aware of any such appointment, the announcement of the junior ministers somewhat lost amongst more newsworthy selections in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). James Purnell (left), member for Stalybridge & Hyde is the new Minister for Creative Industries and Tourism. His responsibilities include broadcasting, creative industries, including film and music tourism and licensing. He is not a member of the Cabinet and reports to the minister for Culture, Media & Sport and Minister for Women Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP James knows the DCMS portfolio very well acting as the Prime Minister's special advisor on those issues when he worked at the No 10 Policy Unit, and was particularly involved in assessing the impact of the foot and mouth outbreak on tourism, and of our recovery marketing activities in 2001/02. More recently he has been a Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Treasury.
We stand by our comments from the previous Monday.
”Travel and tourism is a vital part of the economy of the UK. It should be represented at the highest level. Mr Blair has made it clear that he intends to retire before this Parliament ends. One loss will be the use of government aircraft. Whether executive jet or scheduled airline he will certainly have to use the private sector for travel. One would hope by that time there will be a cabinet member for tourism. Then at least he can go right to the top if it all goes wrong”.
And for what we must call COMMENT PLUS a few words on Heathrow:
Whilst in accord with the general philosophy of the Future Heathrow group ABTN cannot agree with some of its comments. Why is it in this country do we belittle great success? OK Terminal Two is a badly upgraded 1960”s Arndale Centre. T3 not much better whilst access by air or surface is sometimes subject to serious delays. But the travelling public seem to love Heathrow and vote with their feet.
Statistics prove that London is the airline hub of the world with a passenger throughput of 127m last year at five airports and is not losing market share. New York, mainly domestic is 93m, the two Paris airports in the 75m class and Amsterdam and Frankfurt with only one airport each 42m and 51m respectively. Certainly Heathrow has fallen behind its European competitors in terms of regional connections but this can be put down to much better links from the domestic airports to the Continent and the rise of the budget carriers who keep away. British Airways decision under Rod Eddington to virtually abandon South America has not helped with long haul numbers or interlining but other destinations have more than made up the figures. ABTN supports the Future Heathrow group. A third runway at Heathrow is a must as is a second at Stansted. T5 will eliminate many of the Heathrow problems but what will make a huge difference is an increase in the average passenger load per aircraft, currently around 150. BA went for smaller aircraft last time around, 757 replaced by A320 series. Less passengers but same aircraft movements. It”s next aircraft purchase must reverse this process. The future of Heathrow must be the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787. Many more passengers for no more aircraft. That is the way ahead in order to ensure that London and Heathrow continue to stay ahead of the opposition. http://www.futureheathrow.org