Tourism (Hansard, 7 February 1994)

§ 21. Mr. Harvey
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to bring public funding of tourism promotion in England up to the levels per tourist head awarded to other parts of the United Kingdom.

§ Mr. Sproat
We have no such plans. My right hon. Friend will continue to set the level of tourism funding in England according to his judgment of relative spending needs and priorities in England. The levels of spending in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are matters for the respective Secretaries of State.

§ 23. Mr. Simon Coombs
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to reduce the current deficit on tourism.

§ Mr. Sproat
The long-term growth in the number of United Kingdom residents going abroad for their holidays38W is a consequence of increasing affluence and improved travel services. My Department will continue to support the work of the British Tourist Authority and the English tourist board in ensuring that both overseas residents and our own citizens are aware of what this country has to offer.

§ 26. Mr. Booth
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to promote tourism in London and the south-east.

§ Mr. Sproat
The south-east, especially London, is one of the country's most important destinations for both domestic and overseas visitors. It is the role of the tourism industry, with support from the English tourist board and the regional tourist boards, to maximise the visitor potential. The British Tourist Authority features the south-east, and particularly London, strongly in its overseas promotion activities.
The London tourist board has created a London visitors council to strengthen the input of its commercial members to the work of London First.
On 14 January we launched a royal parks competition asking for ideas and designs for refurbishing the Marble arch area including Speakers' corner. This area has international importance with hundreds of thousands of people visiting it each year.
On 28 January, I announced plans to encourage more public events within the royal parks. The royal parks will soon be unveiling its largest ever programme of summer entertainment. To complement this, I intend to encourage medium to large-scale events that would add to the public's enjoyment of the royal parks, while not detracting from their unique character.