Members of Council for tourism economy announced

The Visitor Economy Advisory Council, which met for the first time yesterday (20th January 2025), has had its members announced, and will aim to boost collaboration between the government and the tourism industry. This comes part of the government’s Plan for Change to grow the sector and boost the economy.

First announced last November, the council will inform the government’s forthcoming National Visitor Economy Strategy, as well as also working on the UK’s goal to welcome 50 million international visitors per year in 2030. The UK’s tourism industry is worth £74 billion and four per cent of the gross value added (GVA).

The council is co-chaired by tourism minister Sir Christ Bryant and Karin Sheppard, IHG Hotels & Resorts’ managing director for Europe.Other members of the council include leading figures from British Airways, VisitBritain, Trainline, and the Royal Shakespeare Company. The Visitor Economy Advisory Council will focus on attracting tourists to regions and cities outside of London, which already brings in tens of millions of foreign visitors each year, as well as making sure outbound tourists have a smooth experience when travelling.

Tourism minister Sir Chris Bryant said: “The UK is one of the most visited countries in the world and domestic and international tourism are a key part of our economy. I want to build on this success and enable even more visitors to experience our fantastic culture and landscape.

“That is why I want to increase cooperation between the government and the tourism sector so that we can make the UK the best destination that it can be. That means building investment, improving visitors’ experience and enabling the sector to grow. By working together we can create jobs and drive economic growth as part of our Plan for Change, while also providing fantastic holidays that showcase the best that our country has to offer.”

For the full list of members, click here.