§ Mr. SandersTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of(a) the United Kingdom's and (b) London's GDP was generated by (i) creative tourism and (ii) the tourism industry in 2002–03. [135835]
§ Mr. CabornI have been asked to reply.
(i) The term 'creative tourism' is not recognised.
(ii) (a) Tourism was estimated to have accounted for 4.4 per cent. of UK GDP in 2002.
(b) The Greater London Authority is currently leading a review of methodologies used to estimate London's tourism GDP in order to produce an agreed estimate.
§ Mr. SandersTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of gross domestic product was generated by the tourism industry in(a) the south east, (b) the south west, (c) the west Midlands, (d) the east Midlands, (e) the north west, (f) the north east and (g) Wales in 2002–03. [135837]
§ Mr. CabornI have been asked to reply.
(a)-(f) Reliable estimates of tourism GDP are not currently available for the English Regions. There is one exception, namely the north east. The report Tourism Impact–A pilot study for the North East estimated tourism to account for 3.5 per cent. of the north-east's GDP in 2000.
Plans for a Tourism Satellite Account project for the English regions are currently being considered. This will develop methodologies to calculate tourism figures, including GDP. It is being conducted on behalf of, and being jointly funded by, all Regional Development Agencies in England, and it is anticipated that it will report in late 2004.
(g) Currently there are no official data available on the contribution of the tourist industry to Welsh GDP. The National Assembly for Wales is involved 35W in Tourism Satellite Account development work, including a UK development project which is being coordinated by the Department, and which will report in Summer 2004.