Nearly twenty months on from their arrival as newly elected Liberal Democrat MPs, Calum Miller MP (Bicester and Woodstock) and Charlie Maynard MP (Witney) shared their insights and experiences when they met online with industry representatives and sector stakeholders from across the visitor economy for Experience Oxfordshire’s Visitor Economy Roundtable.
Demonstrating the breadth and influence of the sector, representatives from local authorities, academia and the national tourism agency VisitBritain/VisitEngland joined Experience Oxfordshire partners from hospitality, retail, transport, venues and visitor attractions for an hour of discussion highlighting the sector’s strengths and its current challenges.
Businesses spoke of their concerns relating to VAT rates for heritage and cultural attractions, the abolishment of the VAT refund scheme, and the impact of increased employment costs and called for investment from central government in road, bus and rail infrastructure and a focus on community and placemaking.
The current consultation relating to proposals for local government reorganisation was also raised and those attending were encouraged to review and respond to the proposals.In response the MPs were united in recognising the challenges businesses face but also of the benefits their constituents derive from the county’s visitor economy and the need for a continued collaborative sector approach to protect Oxfordshire’s position as a globally recognised top visitor destination.
“We are extremely grateful to our MPs Calum Miller and Charlie Maynard for joining our roundtable discussion, and to the many Experience Oxfordshire partners and key influencers from across the county who took the time to come together to discuss Oxfordshire’s visitor economy and the challenges facing our sector.“Tourism contributes £2.4 billion to our local economy and supports 11% of the workforce. As a visitor destination, the county benefits from its strong geographical position, outstanding natural and built assets, and world-renowned heritage. However, we are facing increasing competition, from both other UK destinations and internationally, making it more important than ever that we work collaboratively to protect, strengthen and develop our offer to visitors. It was therefore extremely encouraging to hear how positively our MPs view the sector, along with their clear commitment to continued engagement and support with us and our partners.”
Hayley Beer-Gamage, CEO, Experience Oxfordshire
A recent Economic Value of Tourism report issued by VisitBritain/VisitEngland demonstrated the sector’s impact stating tourism is responsible for at least 4% of GDP and 5% of all employment across all nations and regions. Driven by inbound tourism, UK tourism is forecasted to grow by over 9% (exceeding that of the overall UK economy) by 2030, reaching a value of £161 billion and creating an additional 175,000 jobs.
