Overseas Visitors (Hansard, 25 July 1988)

The Earl of Dundee
My Lords, provisional estimates suggest that 2,880,000 visitors came to the United Kingdom in the first quarter of 1988.

§ Baroness Elliot of Harwood
My Lords, I congratulate the Government on their successful policy on tourism. Can the Minister say whether the increase in visitors is reflected in an increase in their spending to the benefit of our traders?

The Earl of Dundee
My Lords, the noble Baroness is, of course, right in the implication in her 3 supplementary question. It does not necessarily follow that with a large number of visitors there will be a commensurate level of spending. So far there has not been a noticeable discrepancy between the two, but it goes without saying that it is important to maintain a good spread of markets to minimise dependence on any one sector. The BTA is working to develop new markets as well as to maintain existing ones. It is certainly vital to offer value for money in all sectors of the tourism industry.

§ Lord Williams of Elvel
My Lords, can the noble Earl inform the House how many people left the United Kingdom as visitors to overseas countries in the first quarter of 1988?

The Earl of Dundee
My Lords, I do not have that information. Visitors from Western Europe to the United Kingdom are 60 per cent. of the total. As to the proportions of United Kingdom citizens visiting Western Europe and Western European citizens coming to this country, about two-thirds of our people are going to Western Europe and one-third of Western Europeans are coming here.

§ Lord Gainford
My Lords, has the noble Earl any information about the reasons for tourists coming to this country? Is it the result of successful advertising abroad in favour of Britain or the recommendation of travellers who have been here and who are telling their friends?

The Earl of Dundee
My Lords, I imagine it is a combination of all such factors. However, it has probably nothing to do with our weather.

§ Lord Graham of Edmonton
My Lords, what special steps are the Government taking to improve the efficiency of the tourist industry in this country? Is the Minister aware that the service industries undoubtedly play a vital part in entertaining overseas visitors? Is he further aware that in many of the service industries, not least the catering industry, wages and conditions are very bad? Can the Minister tell the House what special steps the Government are taking to make visitors to this country even more welcome and satisfied in the future?

The Earl of Dundee
My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord. It is extremely important not to be complacent. Even if the figures are good, as they are at present, we must strive to obtain better results. I can assure the noble Lord that both the BTA and the ETB are doing everything to improve marketing and to make the proposition of visiting this country more attractive.

§ Lord Thorneycroft
My Lords, will my noble friend give unequivocal congratulations to the hotel and catering industry that works so hard and which does a magnificent job in attracting tourists to this country?

The Earl of Dundee
My Lords, yes indeed. I am happy to give the figures. There are 180,000 people 4 self-employed in the hotel and catering sector which is a growth of 24 per cent. between 1981 and 1987 or 6 per cent. from 1985 to 1987.

§ Lord Nugent of Guildford
My Lords, is my noble friend aware that the University of Surrey makes a valuable contribution to this business by being the only faculty in the country which gives a degree in catering?

The Earl of Dundee
My Lords, I am glad to hear that from my noble friend. I was not aware of it. I hope that many universities and their faculties follow this example in due course.

§ Lord Williams of Elvel
My Lords, the noble Earl mentioned a figure of 180,000 people employed in the hotel and catering industry. Can he tell the House how many of them are overseas visitors?

The Earl of Dundee
My Lords, I shall have to write to the noble Lord on that point.

§ Lord Elwyn-Jones
My Lords, surely overseas visitors come here for the weather, do they not?

The Earl of Dundee
My Lords, I have my own views about the relative attractions of the weather north of the Border where I live. I cannot speak for Wales, of course.