Tourism (Hansard, 1 March 2004)

§ Mr. Evans
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to promote tourism in(a) the Ribble Valley, (b) Lancashire and (c) the North West. [156493]

§ Mr. Caborn
In April 2003 Regional Development Agencies took on formal strategic responsibility for promoting tourism within their regions. We are encouraging them to work towards enlarging the overall national market, in a manner consistent with the national marketing strategy. The North West Development Agency (NWDA) will receive Government funding of £713,000 per annum over 2003–06 towards implementing their tourism strategy for the region. Part of this strategy includes the creation of five new Destination Management Organisations (DMOs). Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board will be the DMO for the Lancashire sub region and its board will represent the county's tourism interests. It is anticipated that the Ribble Valley will play a significant and supporting role in the establishment of the new tourism support structures. A bid is currently with NWDA for funding for the new DMO.
In addition, the Ribble Valley is featured in Visit Britain's domestic Outdoor England campaign, launched in Autumn 2003, which encourages tourists to walk along the Ribble Way or cycle round the Lancashire Cycleway Northern Loop. A photograph of Ribble Valley is also featured prominently in the brochure. Details can be found on www.visitengland.com/outdoorengland.

§ Mr. Don Foster
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimates she has made of the indirect economic effect of visitor generated revenue on(a) the South Kensington economy, (b) the London economy and (c) the UK economy of expenditures by the Natural History Museum; what estimates she has made of the multiplier effect of the direct expenditure of the Natural History Museum on (i) the South Kensington economy, (ii) the London economy and (iii) the UK economy; and if she will make a statement. [156892]
671W

§ Estelle Morris
The DCMS has not made any of the estimates referred to in the question.
However, I am aware that an independent report commissioned by the Natural History Museum (NHM) "Treasurehouse and Powerhouse, an assessment of the scientific, cultural and economic value of the Museum", was published on 11 February 2004. This Report suggests that: Expenditure generated for the London and UK economies by visitors to the NHM is £55.7 million to £59.5 million pa; and that The multiplier effect of the Museum's direct expenditure of £52 million (for 2002–03), on the UK and London economies is £161.56 million to £189.55 million.
The report made no estimates of the impact of the NHM on the economy of South Kensington.

§ Mr. Amess
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to reduce regulations imposed on the tourism industry. [157140]

§ Mr. Caborn
With the exception of the Licensing Act 2003, which integrates six archaic licensing regimes into a single efficient system, DCMS does not have direct responsibility for the majority of regulations that affect the tourism industry. In pursuit of the DCMS Public Spending Agreement objective to increase the productivity of the domestic tourism industry, my Department will continue to work hard with other Departments to ensure that the burden of regulation is reasonable, and that regulation is applied sympathetically and consistently.

§ Mr. Hoyle
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to give grants for the tourism industry in non-assisted areas. [157684]

§ Mr. Caborn
The DCMS does not give direct grants to the tourism industry.
The DCMS sponsors VisitBritain to promote Britain as a holiday destination to foreign visitors and England as a holiday destination to the British. The DCMS annual grant to VisitBritain is of the order of £50 million.
In April 2003 strategic responsibility for tourism in the regions was passed to the Regional Development Agencies. It is the Government's view that decisions on investment are better made at the regional level, rather than by central Government.