UKinbound is seeking to collaborate with the new Labour government to enhance the UK’s tourism sector.
- Inbound tourism is highlighted as the UK’s second largest service export, surpassing car and pharmaceutical exports.
- The call includes introducing quick policy amendments and reforms to boost the tourism industry.
- Key policy suggestions cover mobility schemes, passport-free travel for youth, and visa competitiveness.
- The organisation stresses the importance of sustainable tourism growth for regional economies.
In an effort to strengthen the UK’s booming tourism industry, UKinbound has made a strategic appeal to the newly elected Labour government. This initiative is outlined in formal communications addressed to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and other key ministers. As the UK’s second largest service export industry, inbound tourism even surpasses the economic contributions of major sectors such as automotive and pharmaceuticals. This underpins the vital role tourism plays in propelling economic growth throughout the United Kingdom.
UKinbound’s appeal encompasses a broad vision, advocating for a cohesive relationship among all segments of the tourism industry, including inbound, outbound, and domestic fronts. The trade association urges the government to actively listen, engage, and collaborate across these sectors. The association’s proposal is seen as a call for unified efforts to tap into the tourism sector’s full potential.
Central to their recommendations are several policy measures that promise swift implementation. These include enhancements to the youth mobility scheme and initiatives to allow under-18s to engage in passport-free travel. Furthermore, the association calls for fostering home-grown talent with proficient language skills and improving the UK’s competitive edge through a reduced-price five-year visitor visa. Such measures could invigorate the regional economy substantially, addressing the economic imperatives of the tourism sector.
Additionally, UKinbound proposes making the Electronic Travel Authorisation more competitive, alongside a new VAT reclaim scheme aimed at boosting regional economic growth. The association also seeks the restoration of national tourist board budgets to their previous levels, adjusted to account for inflation, to enhance international marketing efforts.
To further these goals, UKinbound plans to expand its government engagement over the summer. This includes engagement with the Department of Education and the Department for Business and Trade, focusing on the sector’s long-term growth strategy. The association also intends to equip its members with resources to engage local MPs, raising awareness about how the inbound visitor economy underpins jobs and growth within their constituencies.
Joss Croft, UKinbound’s chief executive, extends a cordial greeting to Prime Minister Starmer and his cabinet, highlighting the inbound visitor economy’s capacity to grow by 20% by 2027. Croft believes that with appropriate regulatory frameworks, inbound tourism can maintain a sustainable economic presence across the country, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs. He states, “We are committed to working constructively with this new government and look forward to developing a long-term collaborative relationship.”
UKinbound stands ready to partner with the government to drive sustainable growth in the UK’s tourism sector.
