Keep Britain’s finest buildings open to visitors
SIR – Once again, heritage and tourism has been all but passed over in a Conservative manifesto.
This is disappointing. Tourism and hospitality brings in £126.9 billion to the economy, making tourism Britain’s fifth-largest economic sector. While other sectors have been singled out in the manifesto for support, tourism is not directly mentioned, other than in a fleeting reference to Visitbritain, the body in charge on inbound tourism. Yet while vast amounts are spent on PR abroad luring visitors to this country, spending on domestic tourism has been slashed.
Practical measures of support for domestic tourism might include ensuring that only legitimate tourist attractions receive brown tourist sign status, as well as helping small B&B owners with a VAT break and abolishing the punitive VAT rate on repairs for historic houses (introduced by George Osborne in 2012). At present, new-build developers get zero VAT, creating a tax system which discriminates against owners of old buildings.
With her love of walking holidays, Theresa May has already helped the growth of “slow” tourism. Further government support is essential in order for British tourism – from the Shropshire Hills to the Devon coast – to remain the envy of the world. William Cash
Bridgnorth, Shropshire