Today the CMS Committee held an evidence session for its inquiry into ‘Promoting Britain Abroad’. There were two panels today. In the first panel we heard from Patricia Yates (Chief Executive, Visit Britain/Visit England), Kate Nicholls OBE (Chief Executive, UKHospitality) and Sarah Green (Chief Executive, Newcastle Gateshead Initiative). In the second panel we heard from Hayley Beer-Gamage (Chief Executive, Experience Oxfordshire), Paddy Gamble (Head of Insights, New West End Company) and Paul Barnes (Chief Executive, Association of International Retail).
The first panel gave the opportunity to examine how the UK’s tourism and hospitality markets have performed over 2022-23 in the context of the cost of living crisis and labour shortages. The second panel focussed on the impact of the end of the VAT Retail Export Scheme on visitor numbers and spending, including national and local perspectives.
You can watch the full session here.
