‘Huge policy challenges’ ahead says new Tourism Alliance lead
James ChappleBritain’s tourism industry faces "huge policy challenges" over the coming years spanning recruitment, cost of living, a weak pound, an uncompetitive visa offering and excess red tape, the Tourism Alliance has said after naming its new boss.
Richard Toomer succeeded Kurt Janson on Monday (31 October) as executive director of the organisation, which represents more than 65 trade organisations across inbound, outbound and the domestic tourism sector.
Toomer’s task will be to work with the Tourism Alliance’s board and executive, headed up by Etoa’s Tom Jenkins, to ensure tourism industry stakeholders present a united message to government, parliament and other policymakers, while seeking mutual understanding of each other’s priorities and concerns.
He joins the organisation from the Royal Aeronautical Society where he was head of external affairs; he has experience of working in parliament, having previously held policy and communications roles with pilots union Balpa.
“The industry is facing numerous problems," said Jenkins. "Recruitment is a major difficulty across the sector. Energy costs are threatening the viability of many hospitality businesses, just as consumers are facing a cost of living crisis.
"For inbound tourism, the prospect of a weak pound is helpful, but restrictions on school groups coming from Europe deprive the UK of vital export earnings. The UK visa offering is not internationally competitive, both in price and bureaucratic burden.
"And after the reversal of the chancellor’s VAT decision, high-value customers are now going to be shopping elsewhere. Richard has a full in-tray; to tackle it, courtesy of Kurt, he has the backing of the whole tourism sector.”
Toomer said there were "huge policy challenges" ahead for the sector, highlighting the cost of living crisis and particularly energy costs, which he said would affect all companies directly as well as public "ability and willingness" to travel for leisure in the coming months.
"There are also ongoing policy debates on issues such as mandatory registration of short-term holiday rental accommodation and proposed changes to destination management organisations," Toomer continued.
"These and so many other issues are both exciting and important in ensuring the UK tourism industry continues to drive economic growth, prosperity and levelling-up right across the country.”
Tourism ‘not fully understood’ by govt
Janson, meanwhile, has chosen to retire following a 17-year stint with the alliance. "In that time, he has built up the organisation into a body of 60 members representing 200,000 businesses in every area of this vast sector," said Jenkins. "It is courtesy of Kurt that Richard takes over a strong alliance. And this strength is necessary.”
Janson added: "Tourism is a very large and very diverse component of the UK economy that is often not fully understood and recognised in government policy.
"The importance of the alliance in bringing together all the components of this highly successful industry to coordinate issues and messaging to government was highlighted during the Covid pandemic when tourism was the first industry to be hit and the last to recover. Government support was vital to the survival of many businesses.
"In standing down, I know that our tourism industry is well positioned to work with government to provide much needed economic growth and I wish Richard all the best in taking forward this work."
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