What has the coalition done for UK tourism?

The Government is ignoring the needs of the independent tourism sector – that is the view of Bedposts members.

The independent accommodation providers have made their views clear on the Bedposts internet forum following the launch of British Tourism week earlier in the year.

In April John Penrose, the minister for Tourism and Heritage said the industry was important as it was the third largest earner of foreign exchange.

“Cameron goes on holiday in Britain,” he said, and added he believed  that “the Government has got it about tourism”.

Do you think the government has got it about tourism ?

At BedPosts we think we have got it and we have tried, without success so far, to convey the message to the coalition government. We’re not sure the government has got it at all.

John Penrose said “I want to make sure that the government is listening, assisting and helping”. At BedPosts we do not think the government is listening certainly not to the 1000+ independent accommodation providers who have made their views clear in 30,000+ messages on BedPosts’ Internet Forum.

Our members are telling us that the government's support for TripAdvisor is an easy option and an abdication of responsibility. The government rightly needs to save money but as the tourism industry is the third largest industry in terms of foreign earnings it should be more proactive, for instance by replacing the flawed official star system with something better and more objective.

We distilled all these 30,000 messages into a 10 page easy to read report on how things can be reformed to assist the independent accommodation-providers’ sector of the tourism industry.

• We sent this report to Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office, on 27th September 2010. Result: no reply
• On 14th February 2011 we reminded Francis Maude of the report and moreover said that BedPosts, as a voluntary organisation, was prepared to participate in the government’s much-vaunted Big Society. Result: no reply
• On 10th March 2011 we wrote to John Penrose in response to his Tourism Proposals. Result: no reply

Members' benefits
	Discounted credit card processing new-to-cards rate 1.39%
	Discounted website design package save £50
	Discounted photography package save £40
	Free advertising on Bed Posts
	Free availability code for your website.
	Discounted hotel supplies
	Discounted house insurance save £££
	Members' advice and help

Government's Red Tape Challenge

The Cabinet Office has a website called Red Tape Challenge on which it recently called for information on red tape in the tourism sector. BedPosts did not bother to write as we did not think our views would be taken notice of, as before. In any case the consultation has been taken down. (Why not leave it up?)

Join Us

Click here to join us for free on BedPosts and help us to shout more loudly about the needs of the tourism industry as it affects independent accommodation providers in small hotels, bed and breakfasts, inns, guest houses and self-catering accommodation. We will be heard.

Click here to see the full video of John Penrose’s speech on the opening of British Tourism week and make up your own mind if the government is listening. If you think it is listening do you think it proposes to act on anything?

Write to BedPosts' Officers

Click here to write to BedPosts' Chair, Carol Starkey

Click here to write to BedPosts' Press Officer, Gilly Hubbard