§ 25. Mr. WatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is his appraisal of the opportunities for job creation in the tourist sector; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SproatEmployment in the tourism sector has shown steady expansion since the early 1980s and by June 1993 was just under 1.5 million, representing 7 per cent. of all employees in employment in Great Britain. The prospects for future growth in tourism employment opportunities remain good. The British Tourist Authority BTA—forecasts growth in overseas visits and expenditure over the next five years, and this is expected to be accompanied by growth in domestic tourism. The impact of such expenditure is spread widely throughout the economy as it includes spending on accommodation, eating out, shopping, travel within the United Kingdom and on services and entertainment. Many nominally non-tourism businesses derive a substantial part of their trade from tourists. Indeed, BTA estimates that, for every one direct job in the tourist industry, half an indirect job is created elsewhere in the economy.