HC Deb 14 February 1989 vol 147 cc135-7W
13. Mr. John Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the chairman of the British tourist board to discuss the promotion of British tourism abroad; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lee

My right hon. Friend and I regularly meet the chairman of the British Tourist Authority to discuss all aspects of the authority's work in promoting tourism to Britain. My right hon. Friend last met the chairman on 8 February. We have no plans as yet for a future meeting.

19. Mr. Robert Hicks

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he hopes to announce his proposals following the current review of tourism; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lee

The tourism review report is currently under consideration and an announcement will be made in due course.

35. Mr. Patrick Thompson

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has for participation in the European Tourism Year; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lee

I recently chaired a meeting of the national tourist board chairmen and representatives from the territorial departments to begin to plan the United Kingdom's participation in European Tourism Year in 1990. At that meeting it was agreed that the British Tourist Authority would take the lead in co-ordinating the United Kingdom's campaign. To promote the interest and active involvement of the United Kingdom tourism industry, I propose to chair a United Kingdom standing conference of senior figures in the industry. This conference will take place on 25 May.

42. Mr. Bevan

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the effect of the single market in 1992 upon tourism.

Mr. Lee

Although tourism within the European Community is a relatively open sector, I believe that the completion of the single market presents a major opportunity for the industry's further development. This should be apparent in increased flexibility of travel, particularly air and coach travel. The Channel tunnel, due for completion in 1993, should complement and augment this development.

69. Mr. Simon Coombs

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of people employed in the United Kingdom in tourism and tourism-related industries.

Mr. Lee

It is estimated that in September 1988 there were 1.4 million employees in employment in tourism-related industries in Great Britain. There are no directly comparable estimates for the number of self-employed, but it is estimated from the labour force survey that there were 0.2 million self-employed workers in the hotel and catering industry in the spring of 1987.

77. Mr. Charles Wardle

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the effect of the Channel tunnel upon tourism in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Lee

The completion of the Channel tunnel in 1993 will provide a major opportunity for the tourism industry in Great Britain. Estimates suggest that some 15 million people will use the tunnel in its first year of operation.

It is important that the United Kingdom tourism industry begins to plan now to ensure that the full potential offered by the tunnel is realised.

92. Mr. Curry

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of the tourism review.

Mr. Lee

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, North (Mr. Burt) on 31 January 1989, at column 75.

108. Mr. Michael Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many tourist visits were made to the United Kingdom by citizens of the European Economic Community in 1988; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lee

It is estimated that 3,530,000 visits were made to the United Kingdom by residents of the European Economic Community in the first six months of 1988 (the latest period for which figures are available). Of these, 2,430,000 were leisure visits (the remainder were business), representing 69 per cent. of all visits from EEC countries and 50 per cent. of all leisure visits in this period.

118. Mr. Martin

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the chairman of the English tourist board to discuss the promotion of tourism; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lee

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State frequently meets the chairman of the English tourist board to discuss a range of subjects, including the promotion of tourism in England.