BHA criticises lack of funds
04 August 2004
The British Hospitality Association (BHA) has accused the Government of slapping the UK tourism industry in the face by failing yet again to increase funding for the national tourist board VisitBritain.
VisitBritain reckons it needs at least £5m extra a year to continue to attract visitors, but there was no mention of tourism in the chancellor's spending review last week. BHA chief executive Bob Cotton said: "Government funding for VisitBritain has stood still at £35.5m per year for the last seven years."
Cotton warned the lack of investment could jeopardise its forecasts that the sector would grow from £75b today to £100b by 2010, creating 500,000 new jobs and generating an extra £5b a year for the chancellor.
