Tourism a prize worth fighting for
Tuesday 12 March 2013
Professor Graham Miller, Head of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of Surrey, has been interviewed on Radio 4’s Today programme this morning (12 March) talking about the positive impacts of tourism on local economies. The interview was triggered by figures released by Leicester Chamber of Commerce who are anticipating substantial returns from visitors to Leicester Cathedral when the body of Richard III is interred there.
Professor Miller pointed out that the figures released by the Chambers of Commerce would be very difficult to achieve but explained how significant tourism income already is to the UK economy. As he explained “Tourism is a prize worth fighting for and of course the other advantage of tourism jobs is that they can’t be off-shored, they can’t be sent out to somewhere that’s cheaper.”
Whilst the decision to inter Richard III in Leicester has been confirmed, the debate over his final resting place is still raging. Later today the Labour MP for York, Hugh Bayley is holding an adjournment debate in the House of Commons to put forward the case for York as the former King’s final resting place.
The full interview is available on the Today programme website for the next six days and can be found at 54min 50secs into the programme.
