Government and tourism industry partnership announced to boost the sector
6 Jun 2014 10:38 AM
‘Tourism
Council’ set up to help industry continue to enjoy strong
growth
A partnership between the
Government and the tourism and hospitality sector that will focus on improving
skills, increasing the quality and quantity of jobs available and boosting
enterprise in the industry was announced by the Minister for Tourism Helen
Grant.
Speaking at the British Hospitality
Association annual summit Grant said that the new Tourism Council - an
industry-led board of employers and leading players in the sector – will
share and develop best practice so that tourism continues to
thrive.
The Tourism Council, which will
hold its inaugural meeting next month, will be co-chaired by the Tourism
Minister, the Minister for Skills and Enterprise, Matthew Hancock and Simon
Vincent, a senior industry representative from Hilton
Worldwide.
Minister for Tourism, Helen
Grant said:
The tourism and hospitality
industry helps us sell Britain, helps contribute to economic growth and helps
drive investment. The Government is committed to working in partnership with
the sector to build on the success achieved to date and to help deliver further
economic growth for tourism related businesses across the
country.
Skills and Enterprise Minister,
Matthew Hancock said:
Small businesses in towns and
villages across the country are the bedrock of our tourism industry and an
important part of the wider economy. We must do everything we can to ensure
they have the right environment to thrive and grow.
This includes making sure that
young people are equipped with the skills to work productively in this sector.
Last year, there were over 27,000 apprentices in Tourism, Leisure and
Hospitality roles and I am keen for this number to increase. This council will
support the development of skills, the sharing of best practices and provide
means for tourist businesses to innovate and grow.
The Council will be made up of
22 members representing industries engaged in transportation, hospitality,
entertainment, travel and accommodation. Signed up members include
VisitBritain, VisitEngland and the British Hospitality Association along with
companies such as Whitbread, easyjet, John Lewis and Expedia.
It will look at increasing the
availability and take up of apprenticeships and improve training and
development within the sector.
Simon Vincent, President, EMEA,
Hilton Worldwide said:
This is the first time we have
had a cross-Government council looking specifically at tourism. The active
involvement of both the Tourism Minister and the Minister for Skills and
Enterprise means the council can focus on the key areas of skills and training
and quality of service, in the first instance. Taken together, these things are
central to helping deliver growth, competitiveness and innovation in our
industry.
Ufi Ibrahim, CEO of the British
Hospitality Association said:
By establishing the Tourism
Council, the government is affording the hospitality and tourism industry an
equivalent voice to other sectors helping to drive forward the economy. We
congratulate Helen Grant MP and Matt Hancock MP for making such a major and
important reform, and we commit to working with the Council toward increased
job creation and improved skills development.
The Tourism Council will meet
every 3-4 months and builds on the work already announced by the Department
for Business Innovation and Skills who earlier this year announced
tourism and hospitality would be part of thetrailblazers programme – an initiative designed to
develop a clear and concise apprenticeship standards throughout many industries
in the UK.
Representatives from the
following organisations make up the membership of the Tourism Council: DCMS,
BIS, VisitBritain, VisitEngland, Hilton, The Tourism Alliance, Whitbread Hotels
and Restaurants, InterContinental Hotels Group, Dudley Zoo, Expedia, Parkdean
Holidays, easyJet, English Lakes Hotels, Google, First Group, Eurostar, JAC
Travel, Continuum, John Lewis, Shepherd Neame, West Dorset Leisure Holidays Ltd
and TUI Travel PLC.