§ 54. Commander BELLAIRSasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the large revenue drawn by France from foreign tourists; whether he is aware of the work of the French National Tourist Office in advertising and increasing the availability of the tourist routes by methods such as financing the modernisation of hotels; and whether the Government will consider extending the functions of the Ministry of Transport in some of these directions?
§ The PRIME MINISTERHis Majesty's Government is fully alive to the importance of encouraging tourists to visit this country both from the point of view of the revenue accruing from an increased number of visitors from abroad and of the good effect of an interchange of visits on international relations. There has recently been formed under the auspices of the late Government, the Travel Association of Great Britain and Ireland, a non-trading, non-political body, whose objects are to increase the number of visitors to Great Britain and Ireland and to stimulate the demand for British goods and services. His Majesty's Government are continuing to give the Association their support and my hon. Friend, the Secretary for the Department of Overseas Trade, has been appointed chairman of the Executive Committee. His Department will co-operate with the Association in doing everything possible to develop this important industry.