GOVERNMENT TOURISM ANNOUNCEMENT AN INSULT - BURT

10.13.33pm GMT Tue 14th Aug 2007

Responding to today's announcement by the DCMS of extra funding for VisitBritain's marketing budget, West Worcestershire's Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Richard Burt said:

"For Government to announce such a small increase in funding, having made substantial real term cuts to VisitBritain's budget, amounts to little more than an insult to the tourism industry.

"Rural towns like Tenbury and Upton are reeling from the floods with many of the town's festivals being cancelled. They need an injection of cash to survive this year's losses. Without that support the future of some festivals will be in doubt, affecting the lifeblood of the towns.

"Despite the fact that tourism is the UK's fifth largest industry, worth £85 billion to the economy and employing around 2 million people directly and indirectly, Government have made real term cuts to VisitBritain's budget from £52.7 million to £50.1 million (-5.11%) since 2000/01.

"In light of this, it seems ridiculous to propose such a small increase of £1million, with £250,000 of this coming from VisitBritain's existing budgets."