The Government has slapped the UK tourism industry in the face by once again failing to increase the funding for national tourist board VisitBritain, says the British Hospitality Association (BHA).
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| Cotton: "growth at risk" |
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In Chancellor Gordon Brown's spending review last week, there was no mention of tourism.
VisitBritain wants at least a further £5m a year to help bring in more tourists.
BHA chairman Bob cotton said: "Government funding for VisitBritain has stood still at £35.5m per year for the last seven years, which means an effective annual reduction."
He claimed this was putting the growth of the sector at risk.
Cotton added: "In 2002 VisitBritain, together with commercial interests, attracted over one million extra visitors who spent more than £500m.
"We're promoting our socks off to recover from the dire situation in 2001 - which was partly caused by Whitehall bungling over the foot-and-mouth outbreak."
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