Source · Select Committees · Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Recommendation 25
25
Accepted
Paragraph: 98
The Minister and DCMS officials should feel proud of their hard work supporting the tourism...
Conclusion
The Minister and DCMS officials should feel proud of their hard work supporting the tourism sector through the pandemic and we welcome the establishment of an inter-ministerial working group. However, it can only be effective if all departments recognise the extent to which the economy depends on the sector. Given that so many of the levers which control tourism lie outside of DCMS’s control, the industry’s ability to reach its full potential depends on the working group ensuring that policy from other departments does not undermine the work that DCMS is trying to achieve. This will require a full-time tourism minister who can work across several departments
Government Response Summary
The government states that there is a full-time minister responsible for tourism and highlights the role of the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) on the Visitor Economy in facilitating discussions across government and that the IMG is supported by the Tourism Industry Council.
Paragraph Reference:
98
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Government has a full time Minister responsible for tourism, within a broader portfolio. Tourism is a significant contributor to the UK economy, with inbound travel and tourism being the UK’s third largest services export in 2019. As such, ambitions to promote growth and improve the productivity of the sector are reliant on agreement from a number of Ministers, supported by government officials and representatives from industry. The Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) on the Visitor Economy, chaired and championed by DCMS’s Secretary of State, provides an established governance mechanism across government. Attended by 11 government departments, the IMG facilitates wider discussions to find solutions that help support the Visitor Economy, which in turn can help support the objectives of other departments and convene cross-government interests on foundational matters such as levelling up and growth. Furthermore, the IMG is supported by the joint public/ private sector Tourism Industry Council, which is supporting the Government in delivering the Tourism Recovery Plan. The Council and its four working groups collectively consider the challenges and opportunities presented by the Visitor Economy. Thematically, these groups hold discussions around Accessibility and Inclusion, International Competitiveness and Demand, the Events Industry, and Sustainability, as well as live issues facing the sector. These issues are then taken forward for discussion with Ministers at the IMG. In this way, strategic advice is considered by government officials and used to support decisions made by the Minister.