Business Tourism Breakfast Briefing

Concluding recommendations

The speakers were unanimous in declaring the needs of the business tourism sector. These included:

• A purpose-built convention centre in London
• Tax breaks for incoming business tourism
• Financial support from the UK government in the bidding process for major events
• Attendance by ministers at large incoming business events
• Adequate promotional budgets to enable the UK to compete against otherl destinations.
• The support of both the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Culture Media and Sport.
• A dedicated minister who will protect and promote the interests of the sector to ensure that other government departments do not introduce measures that are detrimental to business tourism.

It was agreed that all industry stakeholders need to work together with a cohesive initiative to raise the sector’s profile and gain government support. Among the actions suggested were:

• A focus on gaining support from politicians at a local level – to build up a network of MPs who would champion the business tourisms sector.
• Communicating to government that the UK leads the world in creating spectacular events – events that can and do make a substantial contribution to the economy.