§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the comparable amount of resources expended in 1987 by his Department and national tourist organisations in promoting London and the peripheral regions overseas; and what action he is taking to promote an open jaws policy where only one end of a journey is through the London airport system.
§ Mr. LeeGovernment promotion overseas of London and the peripheral regions is directed through the British Tourist Authority (BTA). In 1987–88 the BTA spent about £5.8 million (27 per cent. of total overseas marketing spend) on promotion of the areas covered by the London, South-East, Southern, East Anglia and Thames and Chilterns regional tourist boards. Airports are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport. However, my Department encourages tourists to visit attractions throughout Britain and so to use whichever airport seems most appropriate for their journey.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will indicate what priority his Department's policy on tourism places on the dispersal of tourist activity to the regions; what specific initiatives his Department is taking to realise this objective; what priority is placed on the development of the regional airports, and Manchester airport in particular, as part of his Department's tourism policy to realise this objective; what discussions he is having with national tourist organisations; and what assessment he has made of the implications of continued heavy promotion overseas of London for the scope for reducing the burdens already carried by the capital as a tourist centre.
§ Mr. LeeMy Department places a high priority on encouraging tourist activity throughout the country, and this is a major objective for both the English Tourist Board and the British Tourist Authority.
The network of regional tourist boards is organised to stimulate tourist activity in the regions, in conjunction with the English Tourist Board which has developed specific initiatives to assist with this, including tourist development action programmes, strategic development initiatives and the inner cities initiative.
192WRegional airports remain the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport. However, the Government remain committed to the 1985 airports White Paper policy of encouraging the maximum use of all regional airports.
I have regular discussions with national tourist organisations on a variety of topics.
London is marketed abroad as one of the many attractions that Britain has to offer. However, I am confident that, with 60 per cent. of overseas visitors already spending nights outside London, the spread of tourism throughout the country will continue.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of air traffic handled in 1987 at London was attributable to inward tourists: to what extent that proportion is expected to increase by 1990, 1995 and 2000; what approximate level of increases in bed spaces in each of those years will be required in London to accommodate these figures; and what discussions he is having with national tourist organisations and others about London's ability to absorb further increases in tourist numbers, in the light of the existing burden on the capital as a tourist centre.
§ Mr. LeeIn 1987, 42 per cent. of air traffic handled in London was attributable to inward tourists. Forward projections for the years 1990, 1995 and 2000 are not available. The London Tourist Board estimates 20,000 extra hotel rooms will be needed by the year 2000. I have regular discussions with the national tourist boards and others on a variety of topics. Last year the London tourist board and the Joint London Tourism Forum published its tourism strategy for London, which sets out objectives designed to ensure that London continues to play its part in attracting visitors.