Tourism

Lord Roberts of Llandudno Excerpts

Tuesday 13th May 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble]

My Lords, the noble Baroness makes a strong point. I know that as part of the China Ready programme, for instance, many of the major visitor centres now have their guides in Cantonese and Mandarin. I encourage the British Museum, a great institution which has the largest number of visitors in this country—many millions—and all museums to look at language opportunities.

[Lord Roberts of Llandudno (LD)]

My Lords, the Minister will be as aware as I am of the decline in traditional industries in Wales. The result has been an increase in the importance of the tourist trade, which today employs about 112,000 people directly and 56,000 others indirectly. Does the Minister not agree that this is an opportunity to encourage that growth? Nothing would do more to help that than a reduction in VAT on visitor and tourist facilities and hospitality from, say, 20% to 7%.

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble]

My Lords, I have already referred to the robust figures for Wales in terms of employment. There is a great industrial heritage there and many visitors. However, on VAT relief, one should remember that the United Kingdom provides cultural attractions which have significant VAT relief, including national museums and galleries, and that other countries impose tourist taxes which we do not.