§ Lord Harrisonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they consider the finding in the British National Tourism Survey 1998 that 40 per cent of the adult population do not take a proper holiday to be a cause for concern; and what measures they will take to help those who, by reason of poverty or family commitments, do not take an annual holiday. [HL4222]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThe 1998 British National Tourism Survey found that 40 per cent of adults had not taken a holidy of more than four nights in the previous year. These findings did give cause for concern and led to the commitment in Tomorrow's Tourism to widen access to tourism for the 40 per cent of people who do not take a long holiday. The English Tourism Council was asked to investigate the BNTS findings. Its research revealed that a major factor is the continuing market trend towards short breaks (with 86 per cent of people having taken at least one in the past three years). They also found that only 14 per cent of adults do not take any holiday for a variety of reasons, many of which are not connected with poverty or family commitments. Some are just too busy to take holidays. The English Tourism Council will continue to work with the industry and other bodies, such as the LGA, to publicise what is already available and to develop new products for untapped markets such as those on low incomes or with caring responsibilities.