Overcrowded, overpriced and overrated: welcome to Britain
This article makes me think: Just what is the role of local government and the public sector more generally in supporting and harnessing the economic potential of tourism?
This is a particularly interesting reflection in some rural areas where in many cases there are limited other work options.
The article explains: “With the world’s attention undoubtedly caught by the royal wedding, the nation’s hoteliers, restaurateurs and tourist attraction operators will barely have time to take the bunting down before next year’s Diamond Jubilee, and then the small matter of the 2012 Olympics Games.
“Most might be hoping that the millions of tourists expected to arrive will not pick up the latest edition of longstanding travel bible Lonely Planet’s guide to Great Britain, lest they take one look, turn around and head off again.
“Britain ain’t cheap,” it warns in its opening pages. “Public transport, admission fees, restaurants and hotel rooms all tend to be expensive compared with their equivalents in many other European countries.”
Is all of this unfair? If there is some substance to it who should be seeking to put it right at the local level? Or should local authorities and others just leave the free market to get on and sort it out?
I am conscious that as a discretionary activity tourism spending has been hit disproportionately heavily within the public sector in terms of cuts – half of me wonders whether councils will come to regret that going forward whilst the other half wonders if such activity was always more ameliorative and optimistic than effective.
I am genuinely divided in my mind on the issue – you will have views no doubt!