Support Messages for British Tourism Week

Michael McGowan, Sheffield Hallam University

Hi there, I'm really interested in Tourism Week because I'm just about to do my dissertation on UK Tourism. Good luck. Mike McGowan.

Kevin Ellis-Baxter, Visit Chester and Cheshire

Visit Chester & Cheshire, the destination management organisation for Cheshire and Warrington is proud to be actively supporting British Tourism Week by encouraging local residents to rediscover what's on their own doorstep, and by encouraging its team to help their friends and family do exactly the same.

Alan Marvell, Bath Spa University

Bath Spa University Students Support British Tourism Week. British Tourism Week, running from 15-21 March, aims to raise awareness of the size, value and importance of Britain’s 114 billion visitor economy and Bath Spa University students will be playing their part. The students, all studying for Tourism Management degrees, are working with Digital Visitor, one of the leading online marketing companies for the tourism industry, and the official supplier of social media and online video for the international tourist board, VisitBritain. VisitBritain commissioned Digital Visitor to provide a national social media initiative through their innovative solution, Visitor Review, just over a year ago. Since then regional and national tourist boards in the UK, along with individual tourism providers, have been taking advantage of this initiative and now Bath Spa students, alongside students from Bournemouth University, will be helping with this national project. Bath Spa University will be receiving its own branded Visitor Review solution and students will be adding their reviews, images and videos of visitor attractions and destinations. When added to the site these reviews, images and photos will automatically be displayed on the VisitBritain site and in this way play an important role in promoting Britain to a global tourism audience. Alan Marvell, Course Leader for Tourism Management, said: This is an exciting project and I am really pleased that Bath Spa University has been selected to assist with the development of digital marketing and social media to promote the tourism industry. Justin Reid, Head of Online and CRM from VisitBritain commented: Part of VisitBritain's remit is not only to promote Britain effectively to an international audience, but also to help inspire more people to become involved in working in the leisure and tourism industry. Involving Universities in this national initiative gives students the opportunity to understand and actually participate and influence a live campaign to help promote Britain as a tourism destination. Press Release Issued 18 March 2010.

Cllr Maxine Callow, Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Tourism at Blackpool Council

Tourism is a £1billion industry in Blackpool and supports over 20,000 jobs in the resort. We now have over 300 accredited accommodation providers and recently launched the Blackpool Ambassadors scheme to train employees in the resort, both within and outside tourist attractions, to provide the best possible overall experience for our visitors. We are constantly striving to improve the quality of the experiences we offer and are proud to get behind British Tourism Week with it’s aims to raise the profile and standards of this vital industry to the UK, and particularly to Blackpool.

Hywel Williams MP for Plaid Cymru

I look forward to once again participating in British Tourism Week which raises the profile of this hugely important £114 billion pound industry across all four nations of the UK. We are richly served by our wonderful heritage and culture, our excellent outdoor activities and the fantastic service that you can expect throughout these islands.

Sally Scott Aiton, Scottish Borders Chambers of Commerce

Scottish Borders Chambers of Commerce, in recognition of the tremendous role that tourism businesses play in promoting the region and its economy, offers industry members a 50% discount to join the SBCC. In return we pledge to support and promote the industry to the best of our endeavours. When tourism has been the one sector to shine through the recession in Scotland it deserves the best support it can get. With unrivalled networking and service support Chambers of Commerce offer that foundation.

Angus MacNeil MP, SNP Tourism Spokesperson

The breadth, talent and innovation represented during British Tourism Week is hugely impressive. The wide variety of businesses involved shows how important tourism is to the economies of our nations - and how well businesses are reacting to the current difficult economic circumstances.

Sally Jones, Rowan Barn B&B

I have lived in Cornwall for over 30yrs and been involved in tourism for most of those years, I have seen so much of Cornwall's industry being hit, with farmers, fishermen and mining going into decline, so I feel we need to promote the tourist industry as much as we can. We need to showcase the county to the whole of Britain, Europe and the world, it has so much to offer visitors, and in doing so we will protect wealth and employment for our future generation.

Adrian Lawes, CD-Traveller

Throughout BTW we will run a daily story about an upcoming event. Links from our home page will enable our million plus recipients to tap into what's happening in their local area. It is the aim of CD-Traveller to encourage as many as possible to see those things on their own doorsteps as to often these get overlooked.

Hugh Bayley MP

“York suffered less from the recession than most other towns and cities in Yorkshire, and it is bouncing back quicker. In part this is because tourism is such a big employer in York. Tourism is big business. It creates jobs and improves the amenities for local people. British Tourism Week gives us an opportunity to celebrate everything that’s good about tourism. Here, in York, we have two thriving theatres, successful cinemas, world class museums and more shops and restaurants than we would have if we didn’t welcome so many tourists to our city.”

Tobias Ellwood MP, Shadow Minister for Tourism

British Tourism Week provides us with an excellent opportunity to underline the important role that British tourism plays in relation to our economy. Often called the 'hidden giant of the economy,' the value of our tourism industry is sometimes overlooked by local and national government alike and I am delighted this event helps raise its profile, as well as encouraging debate as to how we can improve our exceptional offering to both domestic and international markets.

Louise Wood, National Caravan Council

On behalf of the UK caravan industry, the NCC (National Caravan Council) would like to make public its support for British Tourism Week (BTW). Events such as BTW serve to highlight the strength and the breadth of our tourism industry. In 2009, the British public rediscovered the delights of a UK holiday - and in particular of caravanning and motorhoming. By working together we can capitalise on this and make 2010 an even bigger success for British tourism.

Christine Stalker, Editor, Bed & Breakfast News

Bed & Breakfast News magazine supports the 2010 British Tourism Week. B&Bs & Guest Houses are a vital part of the UKs Hospitality Industry. As the editor of the Good Hotel Guide, Adam Raphael, says – “B&Bs offer the best breakfasts in Britain and the best value". Best wishes to all those taking part in the events taking place this year! Chris Stalker, Editor, B&B News.

Chrissie Le Marchant, Blue Badge Tourist Guide

Looking forward to seeing everyone at BoBI. Follow me on my Coastal tour of the exhibition.

Don Foster MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

Don Foster MP is encouraging all Liberal Democrat MPs and Prospective Parliamentary Candidates to visit tourism businesses in their constituencies in the run-up to, and during British Tourism Week to learn more about Britain’s £114 billion tourism industry at a local and regional level. It is one of the few industries that employs people, creates wealth and sustains local economies in every constituency in the UK.

Fiona Parkinson, University of Cumbria

Hi, I would like to pledge our support to the BTW by offering our campus as a venue for any events which take place. We would be more than happy to host an event and indeed help organise it. Lets not forget what the academic venues have to offer! Many thanks, Fiona.

Roger Bailey, Blue Badge Tourist Guide

The show and British Tourism Week is a fantastic opportunity to promote what is best about this country to people bringing visitors here and visiting our many attractions and places of interest. Myself and many of my fellow Blue/Green Badge Tourist Guides also see this as an opportunity to explain what a professional tourist guide can do and what a difference we can make to a visitors experience. We all wish it great success.

Suzanne Box

I would like to know more about providing a venue. I have 3 self catering holiday properties and would like to know if I would be able to help, and of what benefit would it be to both parties. Many thanks.

Ruud Jansen Venneboer, Mazzard Farm Holiday Cottages

Britain has so much to offer. Are you sure you have explored more than just a fraction of it? And with the current Sterling - Euro exchange rates, what better time to go and discover the British Isles.

Rt. Hon. Ann Widdecombe MP

I am delighted to offer my support to this worthwhile campaign.