HC Deb 16 December 1996 vol 287 cc441-2W
Lady Olga Maitland

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement on the British tourism industry. [7617]

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Last year, we reversed a 10-year trend by increasing our world market share of tourism, and we set a record for export earnings. We are set to break the record again in this year.

Tourism is forecast to create up to 1 million new jobs during the next 10 years. I am championing the importance of this key growth sector both within Government and more widely. I will launch the next phase of our tourism strategy in January.