“Support for Britain’s business tourism sector will need to be stepped up, if the government’s objective of £100 billion from tourism earnings by 2010 is to be achieved”, claimed Michael Hirst, Chairman of the Business Tourism Partnership, speaking at the 2nd National Conference on Business Tourism in Nottingham on 16th November 2004.

He said that the Department for Culture and Media report, “Tomorrow’s Tourism Today”, had already identified great potential for further expansion in business tourism bringing in significant numbers of high spending tourists.

Britain’s business tourism is currently estimated to be worth annually £18 billion in tourism earnings and over £100 billion in trade receipts. VisitBritain estimates that by 2010 overseas business visitors to Britain will represent 45% of all incoming tourism expenditures.

But Michael Hirst warned that more accurate data is essential if support for the sector is to be gained. The recent report prepared with the Office for National Statistics had failed to give the sector a high priority to plug gaps in statistical information.

“There is also lack of co-ordination towards developing cohesive business tourism strategies following changes in structures caused by the establishment of regional agencies in England and devolved powers to Scotland and Wales, who are out-spending England by a substantial amount”, he added.

Michael Hirst noted that, “VisitBritain’s funding had stood still for the last 7 years and less than 5% of its budget goes to business tourism, although this accounts for nearly 25% of all tourism receipts”.

He expressed concern at possible cuts in local authority funding for business tourism. “Some cash strapped local authorities are cutting back on conference services and venue and facility investment. The current local authority funding review is an opportunity to avert further cuts on business tourism activities that enrich local funds”, he urged.

Despite these concerns he said, “There are many examples of how new business is being won from international competitor destinations. The trade from business events is being optimised and Britain’s position as a stage for international events is being enhanced with standards and competitiveness being raised”.