Take A Break, Parks Group Urges New Tourism Minister
UK Tourism minister John Penrose has been advised to start his new job by taking
a few days off - on one of the holiday parks where millions of Britons will be staying this summer.
The invitation has come from Tony Clish, director of Park Holidays UK, who says he will be delighted to provide Mr Penrose with use of one of his group's top holiday caravans.
"It's fantastic news that the new government has brought back this ministerial post, and appears to be acknowledging the huge importance of Britain's 114 billion visitor economy," said Tony.
"Tourism's most dynamic accommodation sector is its holiday parks industry - and it would be great for Mr Penrose to experience our product first-hand and see why it's so popular," he added.
Park Holidays UK, commented Tony, would be welcoming more families than ever before this year at its 25 seaside holiday parks in Devon and along the south and east coast.
Over the past year, he said, the company had invested millions its centres in order to meet growing demand - and so far, bookings this year are up 15 percent on last summer.
"Holiday parks generate massive spending in rural areas of Britain, and help to support many different types of businesses and the people they employ.
"In Mr Penrose's own constituency of Weston-Super-Mare, it's estimated by VisitBritain that almost four thousand jobs - that's ten percent of the workforce - are tourism related.
"It's a similar picture in many other areas, and that's why we need an urgent agenda to ensure that our holiday parks industry is both promoted and protected," commented Tony.
Points he would like to see given priority include a more realistic and sympathetic response by planners to the development of new and existing park businesses.
Government, he says, should be advising local authorities to end their restrictive planning policies so that the private sector can invest and benefit regional economies and employment.
It should also be examining ways of improving transport links to holiday areas, especially the railways, and consider using National Lottery funds to support and develop visitor attractions.
He also suggests an increase in funding for tourist boards to promote their regions to overseas visitors, taking the emphasis off tourist honeypots such as London and Stratford-upon-Avon.
"We would like nothing more than for the new tourism minister to spend a few nights in one of our caravan holiday homes, and to discover why parks are so massively popular," said Tony.
"I'm certain he would return to Westminster both relaxed and ready for the new challenges, and with a fresh insight into what makes this industry so successful for British tourism," he added.
Details about the group's parks can be found at www.ParkHolidaysUK.com.
ends
More press information from Tony Clish on 01424 751185
or PR consultant Jon Boston on 01768 895225 (jon@jjbpr.co.uk)
by: Jon Boston
Bathroom Remodeling New York Ny Downers Grove Volkswagen News: New Beetle Sure To Make Driving A True Delight Holland, Mi Jeep Drivers Will Soon Find A New Engine Under The Hood Places To Visit In New Delhi, India - Part 2 Well, Its Not Every Day That I'm Impressed With A New Product, But This One Is One That Should Get Pub Chairs For A New Bar Or Pub Give your 4x4 engine a new lease of life Give your 4x4 a new look Why Buy a New Home Use a pickup accessory to give your vehicle a new lease of life Business Start Up Loans for Poor Credit-Start the New With Some Few Industrial Refuse Overproduction: Waste Problem for All The Significance Of Website Designing When Starting A New Company