BTW 2008 - Support Messages for British Tourism Week

Guild of Registered Tourist Guides

The national association of quality-assured professional tourist guides is delighted to support British Tourism Week. Regional Blue Badge and City Green Badge Guides plan a series of events from London to Land's End, Cumbria to Kent. Our aim? To inspire, entertain and amuse as we showcase the difference a trained and qualified guide can make to the visitor experience - 52 weeks of the year!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Phil Hackett

We are delighted to support British Tourism Week which is fundamental in raising awareness of the importance of our visitor economy. Tourism is vitally important to Shakespeare Country; we receive millions of visitors each year who in turn generate millions of pounds for our economy. Over 15% of the total workforce in Warwickshire is employed within tourism and tourism contributes to more than 40% of our GDP. By pledging our support to BTW, we show our commitment to further improving and developing the tourism industry.

Sarah Callander Beckett

We salute British Tourism Week and rural tourism in particular. Often unrecognised by government, our contribution to the rural economy as well as the enjoyment of millions of holidaymakers must not be underestimated. Landowners and farmers offer overseas guests a true taste of our regional differences, our historic houses and parks, local foods and festivals. The represent a true spirit of enterprise! Recognition for everything that tourism businesses in the countryside contribute should be stronger and be celebrated for being truly British!!!

UKinbound

Tourism's importance to the UK's economy is often unappreciated, despite continued growth and record numbers of visitors. Our industry suffers when we fail to recognise that every business contributes to a greater whole. Together, during British Tourism Week, we hope to change the perception that the different sectors - from transport and tour operators to accommodation providers, travel agencies and attractions - operate independently.

Royal recognition of the importance of British Tourism Week - with the announcement that His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales is to be our Patron - will help us redefine both the image and the reality of British tourism in the important years ahead. His Royal Highness' interests in heritage and in many of the quintessential elements that constitute Britain's tourism brand, make him a perfect ambassador for our industry.

Mike Greaves

The Scottish Tourist Guides Association is pleased to support this important national initiative. Tourism is an important industry to Scotland and the UK as whole. We feel that this is a great opportunity to celebrate and highlight the work done by individuals and organisations to make Tourism such an important part of our economy. We are proud to be involved and are looking forward to working with everyone to take this opportunity to build for future success and growth.

Adrian Marklew

As the sub-region with the UK's most popular seaside resort (Blackpool) and the UK's most visited attraction (the Pleasure Beach), Lancashire and Blackpool and tourism go hand in hand. It's a crucial part of our economy here, contributing £2.5 billion each year and supporting 49,000 jobs. We backed the year in 2007 and we are fully committed for 2008, especially as the spotlight is on the North West with Liverpool 08, and our food and drink year Taste Lancashire 08. Bon appetit and cheers to the importance of tourism!

Martin Sach

The Engish Association of Self Catering Operators is pleased to support British Tourism Week 2008. Tourism is a key part of the rural economy in many parts of England and needs to be recognised as the major industry that it is.

University of Exeter

We are proud to support British Tourism Week and tourism in the South West in general. We are offering discounts during this week at www.ex.ac.uk/visitors

Zaheed Nizar

The UK has so much to offer tourists, and British Tourism Week is the perfect opportunity for businesses within the hospitality industry to demonstrate this with the 2012 Olympics only 4 years away.

Angela Hughes

London's Blue Badge Tourist Guides are delighted to be part of British Tourism Week. We strive to give visitors the very best of London with the wamest of welcomes & BTW is all about showing the rest of the world how much Britain has to offer. Don't miss all the free Blue Badge walks happening in London on Saturday 15 March.

David Thompson

As a Blue Badge Guide and member of the Executive Council of the Guild I am delighted to be able to participate in British Tourism Week by offering my services in the form of two guided walks through the City of London. I wish the event every success.

VisitScotland and the Scottish Tourism Forum

Tourism is Scotland's most important industry with benefits for all parts of the country. The success of Scottish Tourism Week has shown the value of such events in highlighting tourism's value plays to as wide an audience as possible. As visitors judge Britain against not just domestic destinations but ones around the world, we must continue to encourage a greater appreciation of the value of providing a quality tourism product. We give our support to British Tourism Week to raise this appreciation to international levels.

Peter Hampson

UK tourism is big business; it helps drives the economy of most towns and rural communities, and in doing so it contributes significantly to the social well-being of both the visitor and visited. In many areas the visitor economy is one of, if not the most important economic activities. We should celebrate tourism’s contribution the to the good of the Nation at every opportunity. For this reason the British Resorts And Destinations Association and it public and private sector members give their unreserved support to British Tourism Week. We urge others to do the same and help Britain celebrate a truly Great British success story.

Peter O'Meara

BTW is a celebration of one of the most consistently successful industries in the UK. By drawing attention to its success in this way, more people will be made aware of just how diverse,important and essential the industry is. In addition,it should help to create a greater understanding of the significant positive contribution it makes as a major invisible export.

Les Clarke

Malton and Pickering Tourist Information Centres are pleased to support BTW.Wherever you are in the tourism spectrum Event Organiser, Accommodation or Visitor Attraction Provider,Visitor or UK Resident don’t forget your national network of TICs. We can provide that missing link between customer and market, and a personal service aimed at helping you.

Alicia Dunne

The National Caravan Council (NCC) is encouraging its member holiday parks to support British Tourism Week - there is a superb selection of parks in the UK, many with better-than-ever facilities. It's a really strong product offer and British Tourism Week gives us the opportunity to highlight this. Caravanning offers the best of British holidays - freedom, adventure, the outdoors ... We are hoping that during British Tourism Week, more people will be encouraged to discover the joy of caravans and how caravanning gives them access to truly fantastic places in Britain!