Ufi Ibrahim said: “2015 is an election year and we need to make sure that the economic and social importance of the hospitality and tourism sector is understood by all political parties; and that our issues are firmly on their agenda for the year ahead. The changes that the members of the BHA would like to see coming in 2015 to boost hospitality and tourism are clear:
· The development of a robust skills agenda to ensure this industry is able to attract the right people to achieve our growth potential
· The need for enlightened employment legislation that does not jeopardise industry growth/ jobs
· Price competitiveness. UK VAT at 20% means we are not operating on a level playing field with the rest of the world
· The UK is failing to gain our fair share of business and holiday visitors from new markets like China and Russia and visa policies need to continue to be improved
· The need for a more efficient planning process, which encourages rather than restricts further tourism and hospitality development at a local level
· Investing in the best strategies and structures to promote our fantastic cultural and heritage assets, particularly in rural and coastal regions in the UK
· Challenging the sharing economy to uphold the safety, quality and reputation standards of our industry
· Continued support to BHA members in implementing new food and safety regulations
“The tourism and hospitality industry has huge amounts of potential, already employing 1 in 10 of the UK workforce and it has been predicted that the sector will grow at an annual rate of almost 4% over the next 10 years, significantly faster than forecasts for the UK economy as a whole and much faster than sectors such as manufacturing, construction and retail. The British Hospitality Association is very proud to be the voice of the hospitality & tourism industry in the UK.”