§ 37. Mr. Cashasked the Paymaster General what Government initiatives have been taken to increase business travel to the United Kingdom from key European markets.
Mr. TippierThe number of business travellers to the United Kingdom rose by 7 per cent. in 1986 compared to 1985, and represented almost 25 per cent. of all visitors to the United Kingdom. The British Tourist Authority, which the Government support by grant-in-aid which is charged with promoting all aspects of inward tourism, has recently appointed two business travel managers to cover Scandinavia, and the Benelux countries and France. They will specifically promote business and incentive travel to the United Kingdom. They have also allocated additional resources to this sector in Germany and Austria and will continue to promote conference and exhibition facilities in the United Kingdom through their 10 other European offices.