BTW 2007 - Support Messages for British Tourism Week

JOY MONTMORENCY

ACE thoroughly supports this very first British Tourism Week. As a member of Business Tourism Partnership (BTP) we hope that this will further enhance Britain's position as one of the foremost destinations for meetings and events as well as for leisure tourism.

Mark Field MP

It's a pleasure to offer my support to British Tourism Week. The presence of international attractions such as Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament makes tourism a key contributor to the economy of my constituency. Latest figures put expenditure from overseas visitors to London at £3.4bn per year. I therefore recognise the fundamental role played by the tourism industry and welcome this celebration of the best Britain has to offer.

Christine Stalker

Bed & Breakfast News magazine supports the ethos of British Tourism Week and believe our readers, the hands-on proprietors of B&Bs across the UK, will welcome this initiative.

Shaun Woodward MP, Tourism Minister

British Tourism Week is a great initiative and we will work with the Organising Committee to help ensure we can achieve the goals of improving competitiveness and raising quality standards.

Christine Liddle

We're getting the support of our local MP David Anderson, who is visiting the gardens on Friday 16th March.

Visit Wales and the Wales Tourism Alliance

Tourism contributes seven per cent of Wales' GDP but, like every part of Britain, we are facing increasing challenges in boosting tourism visits and spending. If we are to compete on an even footing with other parts of the UK and with countries around the world, we must grasp the opportunities afforded us during British Tourism Week and ensure the future success of destinations, attractions and tourism businesses throughout our nation.

Mike Wilkinson

Tourism is vital to the Lancashire and Blackpool economy. This week is a great opportunity to demonstrate its value within the area and outside it. We will be announcing our link up with Liverpool's Capital of Culture celebrations for 2008, promoting Lancashire food and drink, taking part in the MP Challenge, running the first Welcome Farmer training programme in the North, and rewarding up and coming young chefs. Congratualtions to the BTW organisers for providing this platform to make the case for tourism and show just what our industry can deliver.

David Cam

Tourism has not only benefitted this country in the past, but the potential for the industry is enormous. Sadly successive governments have failed to recognise the latent potential for economic welfare to be generated from international guests and by offering the British wonderful holidays "at home". We need more ambassadors in Parliament and Whitehall public figures who are prepared to take the time to find out more about our diverse product and work for our cause. BTW is a great idea.

Kate Hempel

Our hotel is proud to be supporting activities within Harrow for British Tourism Week. Harrow Council are launching into British Tourism Week with a heavy focus on getting Harrovians to be tourists in their own neighbourhood and getting out and about to see what's on their doorstep.Tourism is a vital part of our community and we look forward to welcoming the 'tourists' from our own neighbourhoods as well as tourists from the rest of the UK and abroad!

Tourism Society

Britain's visitor economy is dependent on organisations from a variety of industries. Retail, hospitality, attractions, airlines, tour operators and many government departments and agencies all have their part to play. British Tourism Week acknowledges the vital role of employees in all these sectors - from front-of-house staff to senior managers. We aim to encourage both employers and employees to improve their customer service and skills levels through training and development that we may all take pride in offering world-class visitor experiences.

VisitBritain

British Tourism Week highlights the contribution made by businesses from every part of the UK's tourism industry, large and small, public and commercial in maximising future opportunities such as the Olympic Games.

The Prince of Wales' support as Patron of British Tourism Week is further evidence of the critical importance of tourism to the UK economy and of our royal heritage to the tourism industry. HRH has consistently supported our industry over many years and has been an influential ambassador at home and abroad. We are delighted that he will lend his support as we lay the foundations to ensure the future growth and prosperity of our visitor economy.

England's Regions

Half of our international visitors never explore beyond London, while many Britons are too quick to escape to foreign destinations. Yet with ever-increasing accessibility from overseas into our regions, we have even greater opportunities to maximise the wealth of tourism opportunities available in every part of England. By drawing attention to the whole of the country, British Tourism Week will help us ensure that our visitors are aware of all they can enjoy wherever they choose to travel.

Daniel Clarke

www.norfolktouristguide.com actively encourages all promotional events such as British Tourism Week and we are confident that we can all play an effective role in making Britain the No1 tourist destination.

Katheirne Brown

Excellent event. The English Riviera fully supports this week by holding our very own 'Local Tourist Week'.

Julian Burrell

The Wales Tourism Alliance fully supports the concept of British Tourism Week and the opportunity to highlight the vital contribution that the tourism industry makes to the economy of Wales and to the rest of Britain. For Wales, tourism is the most important industry and British Tourism Week will help us to reinforce this message to all concerned.

Liz Pippett

All tic's must support anything the industry does to premote British Tourism. Good luck, we are all behind you.

Visit London

If Britain is to continue to rival its competitors around the world and be ready to welcome the world in the build up to 2012 and beyond, we must be united in laying the foundations that will help drive the future growth and prosperity of our visitor economy. As our nation prepares to accept the Olympic torch from Beijing in 2008, London will continue to maintain its position as a world-class capital for business, communications, innovation, contemporary culture and unrivalled heritage. With half of the UK's international visitors coming to London and many more travelling through the capital as a gateway to the rest of Britain, British Tourism Week represents another opportunity to galvanise the commitment of organisations and individuals to further improve and develop the industry.

Reed Travel Exhibitions

British Tourism Week is a unique opportunity to unite our industry behind a major national initiative, which will help highlight the importance of the industry to Britain's economy, to tourism businesses and to the British public. Reed Travel Exhibitions is delighted to be counted among the organisations playing their part in exploring how the UK's complex tourism industry can work together to improve its international competitiveness.

Hugo Swire MP, Conservative Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

We fully support the aims and objectives of British Tourism Week and look forward to playing our part in making it a success.

Association of British Travel Agents

British travel agents have long been a fixture of the global tourism industry, but our members are facing increasing challenges with the advent of the Internet and do-it-yourself packages abroad. ABTA's involvement in British Tourism Week and our ongoing "Book Britain" campaign will help us further our commitment to developing our member's knowledge and awareness of the wealth of opportunities available in selling domestic breaks.