Recommendations & Conclusions
7 items
6
Conclusion
Second Report - Promoting Britain abroad
Acknowledged
We find it astonishing that the Minister and the Treasury were unable to tell us what assessment was made of the impact on the number of tourists coming here, not just in terms of raw visitor numbers but also the indirect benefits of their staying here. We are led to …
Government response. The government says it consulted widely on the change and assessed evidence, balancing fiscal and economic impacts. DCMS will consider the impact of future decisions affecting the inbound tourism sector, noting both direct and indirect consequences of a policy.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
8
Recommendation
Second Report - Promoting Britain abroad
Acknowledged
In all future decisions affecting the inbound tourism sector, the Government should conduct impact assessments not only of the direct consequences of a policy but of the indirect ones as well.
Government response. The government states it will endeavour to consider the impact of future decisions affecting the inbound tourism sector, noting both direct and indirect consequences of a policy, but references the OBR assessment of the VAT Retail Export Scheme and its …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
9
Conclusion
Second Report - Promoting Britain abroad
Acknowledged
The decision to ban ID cards is having a crippling effect on those businesses which rely on inbound visits from children and young people, businesses which are often based in seaside resorts. Any potential risk to security needs to be balanced with common sense: those on organised educational trips are …
Government response. The government acknowledges concerns around the repeal of EU ID cards and will review mitigations through the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG), but has no plans to change its approach to under 18s travelling as part of an organised group.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
10
Recommendation
Second Report - Promoting Britain abroad
Acknowledged
We recommend that the Government should allow children and young people under the age of 18, travelling as part of a supervised educational and/or cultural group visit, to enter the UK on a single group ID card.
Government response. The Government describes a more streamlined and agile approach to AMC spend control and will continue to evaluate the case for a rise in VisitBritain's PASS approval threshold but does not directly address the recommendation.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
12
Recommendation
Second Report - Promoting Britain abroad
Acknowledged
We recommend that the Government should review entry requirements for visitors with a view to ensuring they match or surpass those of our competitors. It should publish the outcome of its review within 12 months.
Government response. The Government describes existing structures (IMG and Tourism Industry Council) for discussing and addressing issues related to the visitor economy, but doesn't specifically commit to reviewing entry requirements or publishing the outcome.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
21
Conclusion
Second Report - Promoting Britain abroad
Acknowledged
We are deeply concerned about how long VisitBritain must wait for confirmation of its Comprehensive Spending Review funding and, particularly, its marketing spend approval. This year’s delays in the Professional Assurance approval process meant VisitBritain was unable to undertake critical work in international markets and so damaged the recovery of …
Government response. The government acknowledges concerns about delays in VisitBritain's marketing spend approval and states that as part of wider reforms of Cabinet Office controls, the AMC spend control will adopt a more streamlined and agile approach.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
22
Recommendation
Second Report - Promoting Britain abroad
Acknowledged
We recommend that within the next three months the Government should negotiate with VisitBritain a rise in its PASS approval threshold.
Government response. The government acknowledges the recommendation and states it will continue to evaluate the case for a rise in VisitBritain’s PASS approval threshold as part of future operational planning. They cite ongoing reforms to advertising, marketing, and communication (AMC) spending controls.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport