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!

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.

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.

Karl Quinney, Great Central Sports Tours

To whom it may concern; I wish to offer my support and backing for British Tourism Week. Get behind it, support it and continue to discover just what riches we have on our very own doorsteps.

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.

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.

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.

Rt. Hon. Ann Widdecombe MP

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

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.

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.

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.

Mark Bramley, Director of Sales, Pebble Hotels

We have arranged for Caroline Nokes the propective Conservative Candidate for Romsey to come and work in House Keeping at The Potters Heron Hotel. Pictures can be provided.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Chrissie Le Marchant, Blue Badge Tourist Guide

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

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.

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.”