With Tony Blair ringing the changes in the UK government”s administration last week, not only the ministers, but the names of the departments that they control, perhaps it is a good time to once again raise the subject of a Minister for Tourism at cabinet level.
ABTN notes the new hierarchy at the department for transport, but of course tourism covers a whole multitude of interests including the Foreign Office, Department for Productivity, Energy and Industry (Department for Trade and Industry?) and that for Culture, Media and Sport. The argument is that Tourism is a vital part of the economy and the makeup of this country. After all there has been a minister for mines in the past when it was an important part of the economy.
Timing is everything. Last week at The London Hilton, Park Lane, the World Travel & Tourism Council unveiled figures which clearly demonstrated the important part that tourism plays in the 21st century. The distinguished audience included Hilton boss David Michels; Alan Parker, chief executive of Whitbread plc; Colin Grannell, managing director, Visa UK; Martin Barrow, director, Malaysia Airlines; Vincent Wolfington, chairman emeritus, Carey International; Alex Christou, managing partner, Accenture; Tom Wright, chief executive, Visit Britain; Fiona Jeffery, group exhibition director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.
Jean-Claude Baumgarten, president WTTC said: "Our economic research shows that Travel & Tourism is one of the biggest sectors of the global economy, generating jobs for over 200m people worldwide and in excess of 10% of world GDP”.
In the UK, the travel and tourism industry is expected to produce 19,440 new jobs in 2005, to total 1,075,860 jobs or 3.5% of total employment according to WTTC. Taking a broader perspective on the travel and tourism economy, ie: looking at its direct and indirect impact, travel and tourism will be responsible for 2,857,300 jobs, which represents 9.3% of total employment and 10.1% of GDP. Growth over the next decade is forecast to be 3.3% per annum.
”With such a substantial contribution to the economy and with clear prospects for growth, travel and tourism clearly merits attention at the very top level of government. We have long campaigned for travel and tourism to be a first tier ministry, with the associated levels of investment and other forms of support that will ensure the industry's potential is fully realized”, said M Baumgarten. ”The three most important issues that need to be championed in cabinet are: promotion of the UK as a tourist destination, investment in education and infrastructure to ensure we can properly handle future demand and liberalisation from unnecessary bureaucracy and regulation."
ABTA is ambivalent. It wants a minister at cabinet rank or not at all. A member of the government subservient to a full member of the working team does not appeal to the travel trade body.
Tom Jenkins, executive director of the European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) has this to say. "Travel and Tourism is one of the biggest employers in the EU. It is also a volatile industry. Thousands of jobs can be generated through a currency swing. Thousands more can be lost through a terrorist scare. A minister would do well to address how we can make the industry more robust in this respect”.
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.