§ 29. Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps the Government plan to take to improve the attractiveness to businesses of tourist areas. [98995]
§ Mr. Chris SmithThe Government are taking a number of steps to ensure that businesses are attracted to tourism areas. My Department's tourism strategy, "Tomorrow's Tourism" outlines many initiatives in, for example, training, improved access, more readily available information. Additionally, we now have the English Tourism Council, a more strategic body which leaves more money free for the support of tourism in the regions. Tourism areas also benefit from other spending such as lottery funding, the Single Regeneration Budget and European Regional Development Budget.