Minister for Tourism, John
Penrose MP, said he was “impressed” by what he saw on the show floor at
meetings trade show International Confex this week, but admitted the UK was too far
down international rankings as an events destination and he was “sick of making
excuses for it”.
The MP’s walk round at the show was considered a coup by the British Visits & Events Partnership (BVEP) in its
goal of achieving more government recognition for the meetings and events industry.
BVEP chair Michael Hirst said he thought the show had been an "eye-opener" for
Penrose based on the sheer volume of business in terms of visitor numbers
and spend, particularly in the association sector: “It’s great he’s seen first-hand
the vibrancy and dynamics of an industry that does so much for Britain.”
Penrose said he had been “impressed by the people, energy and buzz at
International Confex. It’s a thing worth celebrating and we have an industry
that has a business case for investment.”
Penrose said was “particularly struck by the varying level of engagement by
private and public sector” across destinations throughout the
UK. “I’m optimistic,
but there’s an enormous amount all of us can do, between the public and private
sector, to enable us to take a much higher place in rankings in terms of exhibitions
and events. We are too far down and I’m sick of making excuses for it, as I’m
sure you are.” (The UK is
currently 4th on ICCA rankings and London only 14th in city rankings.)
At a lunch presentation, Hirst pointed out that despite losing VisitBritain’s
support for business tourism - “a decision we still greet with some puzzlement”
- that the International Passenger
Survey for showed business visits made to the UK in 2011, were up 6 per cent.
He urged Penrose to support BVEP’s report
on ‘UK Subvention Policy and Bid Support Practices’, given the hugely competitive
environment for winning events worldwide. “We hope your support will
lead to eventful payback.”
Pictured: MP John Penrose
