Oral answer to question provided on Thursday, 19 October 2006 in the House of Lords, by Lord Davies of Oldham (Labour).

Tourism: VisitBritain

Answer: My Lords, it is not just one, but the noble Baroness is right that a large number of British tourists go abroad. That is a choice of British citizens and a reflection of their resources and earning power. But even in the year of the London bombings we increased incoming tourism by 8 per cent. That is a record of which all the organisations concerned, private and public, can be proud.

This is an answer to the Oral question asked on Thursday, 19 October 2006 by Baroness O'Cathain (Conservative).

Question: My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for mentioning the tourism deficit because, according to the noble Lord, Lord Harrison, this Government have done great things in co-ordinating tourism effort and getting more people to visit this country. The fact is that our tourism earnings are in deficit and there is no co-ordination overseas among the various bodies that are trying to promote Britain. VisitBritain is one such body, but how many British organisations are now promoting tourists to come to Britain in the United States? It is not just one.

Secondary information