Tourism Strategy (Hansard, 11 March 1999)

§ Miss Geraldine Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans the Government have to encourage the regeneration of traditional seaside resorts(a) through grant aid and (b) otherwise. [75699]

§ Janet Anderson
The Single Regeneration Budget brings together 20 separate programmes to create a flexible fund for local regeneration. In September, Ministers at the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions announced that SRB funds—about £3.8 billion over the next three years—would be available to tackle pockets of deprivation, including coastal towns. 44 of the bids included proposals for the regeneration of seaside resorts.
"Tomorrow's Tourism", our tourism strategy document published on 26 February, addresses this important industry sector and, through the eight-stage regeneration plan for resorts, will help to create the right framework in which tourism can flourish. The future of our seaside resorts depends on all those involved in both private and public sectors working together to develop the sort of products now needed and with the quality and value for money which visitors expect. The Government will continue to explore ways to encourage the regeneration of traditional seaside resorts.

§ Mr. Pendry
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how the Government intend to implement their tourism strategy; and if he will make a statement. [75793]

§ Janet Anderson
Our strategy document, "Tomorrow's Tourism", sets out a number of specific proposals for action. The Government will review, and report annually on, the progress made in implementing the strategy.

§ Miss Geraldine Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has for overseas promotions to encourage people to visit traditional British seaside resorts. [75698]

§ Janet Anderson
The Government sponsor the British Tourist Authority, who are responsible for the promotion overseas of Britain as a tourist destination. The BTA assists seaside resorts both by promoting them in its overseas campaigns—such as Waterfront Britain, British Arts Cities, the Millennium Touring Brochure, UK The Guide, Britain for Walkers and the Movie Map—and by encouraging resorts to participate in overseas marketing partnerships and in overseas consumer trade exhibitions.

§ Mr. Peter Ainsworth
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what were the design, printing and distribution costs of the document, "Tomorrow's Tourism". [75185]
325W

§ Mr. Chris Smith
[holding answer 5 March 1999]: The costs of designing, printing and distributing 15,000 copies of the document "Tomorrow's Tourism" are as follows:
Design We are awaiting the final invoice from the company responsible for design, typesetting, proof reading and the conversion of the text into a format suitable for the Internet. However, we expect the final cost to be approximately £35,000.
Print The cost of printing 15,000 copies of the document was £25,510.00.
Distribution The distribution was undertaken by DCMS employees. The overall cost of postage was £1,850.

§ Mr. Peter Ainsworth
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions his Department held with each of the RDAs about the context of "Tomorrow's Tourism" prior to its publication. [75567]

§ Mr. Chris Smith
[holding answer 9 March 1999]: Our strategy was developed with full involvement from the industry and other Government Departments with an interest in Tourism. This included the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, who have the policy lead for the RDAs. I discussed our new tourism strategy, "Tomorrow's Tourism" with the Chairmen designate of all the RDAs on 18 February.

§ Mr. Peter Ainsworth
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if copies of "Tomorrow's Tourism" were sent to each of the chairmen designate of the RDAs. [75566]

§ Mr. Chris Smith
[holding answer 9 March 1999]: Chairmen and Chief Executives designate of the RDAs were each sent copies of "Tomorrow's Tourism" on 25 February.

§ Mr. Peter Ainsworth
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with(a) the English Tourist Board, (b) regional tourist boards and (c) representatives of tourist attractions about proposals for a national quality assurance scheme; and if he will make a statement. [76068]

§ Mr. Chris Smith
One of the key aims of our new tourism strategy, "Tomorrow's Tourism", published on 26 February, is to develop and spread quality. "Tomorrow's Tourism" was developed with full involvement from the industry, including the English Tourist Board and the Regional Tourist Boards. The strategy promotes the use of the new harmonised quality standards for accommodation being launched to consumers in September. The ETB is considering the use of quality assurance schemes for other industry sectors, including the attractions sector.