Experts say government must invest in travel infrastructure

The growth of the tourism industry has caused leaders in the industry to meet together to discuss the country's infrastructure requirements. In particular, industry experts are warning the government that private investment into Stansted and Heathrow Airports are necessary for economic growth, despite protests urging the contrary.

Estimates expect revenues from travel and tourism in the UK to exceed £190 billion in 2007. The numbers come from research conducted by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

However, according to the WTTC, these revenues are being jeopardised by the country's infrastructure constraints. Already problems at airports are having serious effects on the opinion that millions of travellers have about travelling in Britain.

Unfortunately, the many positive experiences the country has to offer are being forgotten due to the mis-management of increasing pressures on its infrastructure system, most notably at the main airport hubs.

Today, the travel and tourism economy in the UK is the fifth largest in the world, representing 9.1 per cent of the countrys annual GDP and employing 8.5 per cent of the population in 2007.

According to Jean-Claude Baumgarten, the president of the WTTC, the government needs to step in and take action in order to maintain the strong economic position of the tourism industry in the UK.

The current focus is on climate change and this industry cannot be demonised as the cause. It is quite simple, efficient infrastructure and less congestion will have a positive impact on the environment he said.

Whitbread chief executive, Alan Parker, made similar warnings, pointing out the dependency of the hospitality and leisure industry on the nations aviation industry. The hospitality industry depends heavily on the infrastructure of air, road and rail links, which transport clients to the hotels. If infrastructure does not keep pace with growth, then business and tourism could drift away from the UK to other markets on the continent, said Parker.

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Jennifer Jones Editorial


19/09/2007


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