Should tax-payers subsidise holidays?
Thursday 3 November 2011
This week an All-Party Parliamentary Group, chaired by Paul Maynard MP has released a report following its inquiry into the social and economic benefits of social tourism. The report features heavily the evidence of Dr Graham Miller and Dr Lynn Minnaert from the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of Surrey.
As Dr Miller explained, “It will probably come as little news to anyone that holidays are good for us. They help us to recover from the structure of work and home life, and to re-connect with ourselves and families. Holidays can also have a positive economic effect on destinations and countries. While many businesses can be outsourced to cheaper parts of the world, tourism is an export industry that has to be based in the home country and so much of the economic benefit can be retained.”
So, if holidays are good for people and the economy, should taxpayers subsidise those who are not able to afford to go on holiday? The idea has certainly made a splash in the media and Dr Miller and Dr Minnaert have been awarded an ESRC grant to investigate the potential of the concept of Social Tourism.
With a growing economic imperative, the Spanish government is able to show that for every €1 invested in their nationwide scheme of subsidising holidays for the elderly, €1.50 is returned through additional tax revenues and cost savings for the Spanish health service. Evidence collected by Drs Miller and Minnaert also suggest that there are very real health savings to be had from encouraging people to take a holiday, as well as benefits to individuals from learning how to budget in preparation for their holiday, confidence in planning the trip, and also improving family and social ties.
Perhaps the key challenge facing social tourism is not so much in demonstrating its benefits, but in convincing taxpayers that this may constitute a legitimate form of social policy.
The parliamentary report is available online now and the next ESRC seminar on social tourism will be held on 21st February in Bradford. If you’d like to know more about the seminar series please contact Lynn Minnaert, E: l.minnaert@surrey.ac.uk
Media Enquiries
Peter La, Press Office at the University of Surrey, Tel: +44 (0)1483 689191, or Email mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk