Support Messages for British Tourism Week

Mike Hancock MP

As a Portsmouth man, born and raised, I'm immensely proud of our area and think it is a wonderful tourist destination. Portsmouth has something to offer everyone, from the shops and restaurants to the museums and galleries showcasing our unique history, and definitely not forgetting the beautiful harbour and the world famous Spinnaker Tower. I would like to thank and congratulate all of those people who work to make Portsmouth's tourist industry as successful as it is. I back British tourism!

Chris Haycock, www.BritEvents.com

As one of Britain's premier events listings guides, the team at BritEvents.com would like to extend their support and best wishes of this year's British Tourism Week. We're sure that the event will once again raise the profile of the tourism industry in Britain, and provide a massive boost for inbound tourism.

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.

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.

Oksana Higglesden, People 1st

British Tourism Week has the total support of People 1st, the sector skills council for hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism. As we approach the golden decade of sporting events and the opportunities it brings, it's imperative that the sector gains the recognition it deserves as one of the largest and most valuable contributors to UK Plc. Its people and their skills play an integral part in the sector's success and we should not forget that continuous development is key to its future legacy.

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.

David Thompson, Chair, Guild of Registered Tourist Guides

The Guild of Registered Tourist Guides, the national membership organistion for Blue Badge Guides, endorsed by VisitBritain as Britain's Official Tourist Guides, wishes every success to all participants in British Tourism Week. Blue Badge Guides will be playing a key role throughout the four days of the Best of Britain and Ireland event at London's Olympia by greeting visitors and leading themed guided tours of the exhibition stands to highlight the many rich and varied opportunities for tourism to be found throughout this country. We look forward to working with our colleagues through the travel and tourism industry as we celebrate Britain together.

Rt. Hon. Ann Widdecombe MP

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

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.

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.”

Chrissie Le Marchant, Blue Badge Tourist Guide

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MBE, MP, Minister for Culture and Tourism

Tourism makes an enormous contribution both to our economy and the way in which our country is viewed by the rest of the world. This is not something about which everyone is always aware. British Tourism Week represents a fantastic opportunity for the industry to showcase the excellent work they are already doing as well as presenting their plans for improving services, accessibility and delivery now and throughout the run-up to 2012.

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.

Linda Newell, Emsworth Museum

Emsworth Museum is one of the large number of independently run Museums throughout the country, and we wish everyone involved in British Tourism Week a successful week. We also wish all tourism businesses "Good Luck" for 2010 and beyond.

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.

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.