70. Mr. De la Bèreasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to ensure that facilities for overseas visitors and hotel accommodation in London and the chief cities will be expanded to meet the increased tourist traffic, especially the U.S. traffic, promoted by the activities of the Travel Association overseas.
§ Mr. BottomleyYes, within the limits of the resources available.
Mr. De la Bèreasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is satisfied that good class hotel accommodation in London will be sufficient for the increasing U.S. traffic in 1949, resulting from the Travel Association's activities overseas; and if he will arrange for the re-equipment of hotels frequented by overseas visitors with the finest British products in order that the hotels may advertise British craftsmanship.
§ Mr. H. WilsonGood class accommodation in London is limited, and the overseas publicity undertaken by the British Tourist and Holidays Board through its tourist division, the Travel Association, is directed towards persuading visitors to spend as much time as possible in other parts of the country. If this, and our efforts to extend the tourist season, succeed as we expect they will, I think that there will be enough accommodation for United States visitors in London next year. As regards the second part of the Question, I have already helped some 100 hotels, selected by the British Tourist and Holidays Board as of outstanding importance to the tourist trade, to get equipment not generally available on the home market, and I propose to continue and extend this policy.