HL Deb 10 December 1997 vol 584 cc31-2WA
Lord Campbell of Croy

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they intend to continue support for the British tourist industry and to encourage foreign visitors to come to the United Kingdom.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey:

We shall continue to support the British Tourist Authority (which promotes Great Britain abroad) and the national tourist boards. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport recently announced that it would be preparing a tourism strategy with a newly expanded Tourism Forum, comprising more than 50 industry leaders. The strategy will cover identification of trends, improving quality and enabling growth in tourism, and will include developing Britain's image to attract more overseas visitors. Similar work has been, and is being, undertaken in Scotland. The Wales Tourist Board will develop a tourism strategy which it is intended should be presented to the proposed national assembly. In Northern Ireland a new strategy is being developed in consultation with the local industry. The Northern Ireland Tourist Board will continue to work in partnership with the British Tourist Authority in tourism marketing initiatives.