17th January 2007

MP SAYS: UK BACK ON THE MAP AS TOURIST DESTINATION

Figures published today by the Government in the House of Commons, reveal that despite setbacks to the UK tourist industry in 2001 following the Foot and Mouth outbreak and the terror attacks of 9/11 in New York, the UK is now back on the map as a top destination for foreign tourists.

In a Written Parliamentary Question to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Clwyd South MP - MARTYN JONES - asked the Government for statistics on the number of foreign tourists coming to the UK, and the effect on the UK economy.

In his reply Tourism Minister, Shaun Woodward told Mr Jones that during 2005 visitor numbers to the UK had increased by 8 per cent, with tourist spending increasing by 9 per cent on the previous year.

Furthermore, the very latest data from the last quarter of 2005 had shown the upward trend was continuing. Mr Woodward said that there had been: "significant increases on the 2005 figures for the same quarter"

Commenting on the reply, Martyn Jones MP said:

"This is superb news - not just for the tourism sector - but for the wider UK economy as a whole.

"Considering that this recovery has taken place in such a relatively short timeframe - following the last Foot and Mouth outbreak, and the attacks in New York on 9/11 - these figures are very welcome news indeed.

"It has proved that the 'doom-mongers' - who confidently predicted a collapse of the UK's tourist industry - were completely and utterly wrong.

"This is also good news for Wales, as there will undoubtedly have been a positive 'trickle-down' effect for the Welsh economy and for Welsh jobs.

"Rural areas like my constituency, will have benefited greatly from this success story, and the good news is that the upward trend continues apace."