Tourism jobs boost urged

The Government is being urged to do more to support Britain’s £86 billion tourism industry or risk missing out on up to a million new jobs.

Blackpool is top of the pops for UK resorts Blackpool is top of the pops for UK resorts

Grant Hearn, chief executive of hotel group Travelodge, ­believes that growth in tourism — unofficially estimated at less than 1 per cent last year — was at risk of falling further ­behind ministers’ targets of four per cent without more government funding, marketing and manpower in Whitehall.[>

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Tourism is Britain’s fifth-largest industry, employing 2.7 million people. Hearn said that this number could rise by up to a million with the right push.[>

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But the government marketing spend promoting Britain, at £6.5 million, is currently well ­below levels seen in Spain, France and Ireland. France, for example, recently earmarked £1 billion of public funds for tourism.[>

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Hearn, who sits on the board of Visit London, the agency that promotes the capital, said: “I am keen on the Government showing a real focus and vision for tourism, especially with the ­Olympics coming up. If not, we are going to miss out.”[>

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The plea comes as a new survey from Travelodge shows that the majority of Britons intend to go on holiday in the UK this year rather than abroad.[>

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The survey found that Blackpool was the most popular seaside destination.[>

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The trend toward taking holidays in the UK is picking up speed due to the pound losing value against the euro and the dollar. It could deliver a big boost to Britain’s tourist industry as well as spur on a revival of the British seaside.[>

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The survey of 3,500 people’s holiday plans for 2009 found that 54 per cent plan to stay in the UK. This compares with last year’s poll in which only 30 per cent of Britons intended to holiday in the UK in 2008.[>

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This time some 47 per cent of those surveyed intended to visit the coast, the most popular destination being Blackpool.

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Of those asked 13 per cent said they planned to visit the Lancashire resort, followed by Bournemouth, Dorset, at 8 per cent and Brighton, Sussex, at 7 per cent.[>

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Guy Parsons, UK managing director of Travelodge, said: “Given the collapse in the value of sterling it is little surprise that a majority of British holiday­ makers are not intending to go abroad next summer.[>

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“The British seaside has ­undertaken a renaissance in ­recent years, with many traditional locations modernising themselves to offer something for everyone.”[>

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The findings are supported by VisitBritain, the national tourism agency which has conducted separate research into the ­effects of the credit crunch on holiday trends.[>

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The research, published last month, showed that short breaks abroad are the holiday type most likely to be sacrificed in the economic downturn.[>

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However, fewer people intended to ditch plans for UK breaks and holidays despite feeling the pinch.[>

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According to VisitBritain, about four fifths of the £86 billion spent on breaks annually comes from domestic tourism and Britons spend £45 billion a year on day trips alone.[>

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Spokesman Elliott Frisby said: “If more people holiday here that will be fantastic for tourism.”[>

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It is not only seaside towns that are pulling in the visitors. VisitBritain said city breaks to Liverpool and Newcastle were popular due to their cultural appeal. London was also a favourite with holidaymakers.[>

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Increasing numbers of city dwellers are embarking on rural escapes such as self-catering holidays in rented houses in places such as Suffolk.[>

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