Britain's tourist industry needs better transport

Transportation Minister Ruth Kelly recently revealed the Government's plan for a new transportation system that would encourage economic growth and reduce carbon emissions. Since then, transportation has been a hot topic of conversation in the UK.

 

What many people fail to realise is just how integral a good transportation system is to one of the largest industries in the UK: namely tourism. Tourism generates £85 billion a year to the national economy and represents 3.5 per cent of the UK's economy.

 

Rail links and motorways play a key role in any visitor's experience whether they are a domestic traveller or an international visitor.

 

In Yorkshire, 80 per cent of visitors arrive to the region by car and this is the area of the country with the highest number of visitors arriving by public transportation. Those figures may change in 2008, however, as National Express takes over the East Coast Main Line.

 

National Express is making several changes to the business including a new brand and new livery for its staff members. In addition, the company has said that it will spend £7.4 million to improve the rail stations which will soon be their's and a further £24 million on new rolling stock.

 

However, if rail lines like the East Coast Main Line are really going to work, they also require government intervention and a long-term commitment to improving rail lines and increasing capacity.

 

With the development of regional airports this year, areas like Yorkshire have seen huge numbers of international visitors coming into the region from Europe. However, once those visitors arrive, they lack the public transportation infrastructure which would facilitate their getting around.

 

Public transportation systems serve not only local people and not only help the local environment but they help bring in tourist dollars and keep tourists coming back for more. A serious commitment on the part of the government to develop a long term public transportation policy is required throughout Britain, even in a quiet place like Yorkshire.

 


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Jennifer Jones Editorial


08/12/2007



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