Tourism is an economic, social and cultural asset. It connects people to history, showcases innovation, and will have a key role to play in reviving the spirits of our nations as we emerge from the pandemic.
Tourism has been one of the hardest hit sectors by COVID-19, which is why last month the UK Government released our Tourism Recovery Plan. The Plan sets out how the UK Government will assist the tourism sector’s recovery, with the aim of a full return to pre-COVID numbers by 2023.
As the sector recovers, we have an opportunity to ensure this recovery is sustainable. Our Plan sets out a framework for how the government will work with the sector to build back better, with a more innovative and resilient industry that minimises damage to the environment.
For a start, we are introducing a new rail pass to accelerate the recovery of domestic tourism and encourage sustainable domestic holiday travel, reducing tourism’s reliance on cars.
We are investing almost a billion pounds to provide a network of electric vehicle charging hubs at every service station on England’s motorways and major roads, and helping small hotels and heritage sites install electric vehicle charge points for guests and visitors.
We are completing the England Coast Path, which will be the longest managed and way-marked coastal path in the world.
We are introducing more National Parks and other designated areas, to increase access to nature and protect our landscapes.
We are developing a Transport Decarbonisation Plan, which details our holistic and cross-modal approach to decarbonising the entire transport system.
We have established a ‘Jet Zero Council’, which brings together government and industry to drive forward the government’s decarbonisation ambitions for the aviation and aerospace sectors, with the aim of achieving zero-emission flights within a generation.
At COP26 we will be looking to secure commitments to embedding sustainability into the recovery of the global tourism industry.
Finally, later this year we will develop a Sustainable Tourism Plan to look at further measures to reduce the impact of tourism on our environment whilst balancing the needs of local communities with the economic benefits generated by tourism. I look forward to updating the committee on this at the next appropriate opportunity. Thank you.
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