A newly appointed Tourism Minister compared with a more powerful hospitality champion
Here are the Questions we will need to consider-
1. What skills, knowledge & influence can the tourism minister have on behalf of the tourist board in government and business? I believe that he must have relevant tourism experience in the country or visiting experiences at local and national attractions & special events.
2. Can a tourism minister cope with managing tourism along with other ministerial responsibilities? I feel that he will not be able to cope as he has other responsibilities because tourism is a big & broad industry itself.
Indicators that the Minister for Tourism will need to consider-
· He should balance his workload
· He will need to have effective time management
· He would ideally need to liaise with the Chancellor of the Exchequer for funding the tourism board and looking for sponsors to market the country.
· He has to know the budget & funding requirements of the tourism board to address the chancellor.
· He will need to have business skills to promote Great Britain.
· He will need to liaise with the tourism board. To choose which counties to promote and which events.
· All these responsibilities need to be handled in an efficient manner and therefore a person who has time, relevant skills, inside connections, a good network & knowledge of the country.
I think this is not feasible for the Tourism Minister to handle whilst taking into consideration his other job responsibilities.
Recommendations-
I therefore endorse Peter Hancock’s article in Hospitality & Caterer’s {28.09.2012] Table Talk column and recommend that this position requires someone with time in their hands and more experience & contacts.
The Tourism Minister should be qualified preferably from the industry itself (from the tourism board) somebody who has held a previous position or who is presently in a most senior position in our tourism board; Visit Britain.
I hereby present my response to the above debate and welcome your contributions.
With kind regards,
Sone Mukherjee Esq.
Many thanks for posting, Sone. wouldn't it be great if the minister overseeing hospitality and tourism had some prior knowledge or expertise of the sectors? In reality, ministers tend to be parachuted into departments and then moved on when the next reshuffle comes round. Perhaps we should encourage some of the industry's great and good to run for election ...