Our plan for tourism, by Labour

BRITAIN’S Labour Party has said tourism would play a ‘key role’ in its plans for growth and jobs in the country if it were to come back into power after next year’s General Election.

Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Harriet Harman has announced a plan to boost tourism that would include an ‘efficient and robust visa system’ with exit checks; a rail fare structure to make train travel cheaper; and a ‘swift decision’ on airport capacity.

She also pledged that the party would:

·       Cut business rate bills

·       Work with the tourism industry to build jobs for young people

·       Promote and regenerate seaside towns, arts, heritage and culture

The announcement has been welcomed by the Association of British Travel Agents, but some critics have pointed to the absence of any mention of Air Passenger Duty in its tourism manifesto.

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There’s more to Florida than that mouse …

VISIT FLORIDA invites travellers to experience not only the Sunshine State’s headliner destinations but also its other attractions.

·       Florida has 825 miles of beaches. Some of them are undeveloped, and a few are unreachable except by boat or seaplane. 

·       Art Basel Miami Beach … From November 8 to February 16, masterpieces by Picasso and Dali can be seen in St. Petersburg at the Dali Museum.

·       Florida has more than 100 craft breweries. St Petersburg/Clearwater and Jacksonville have established craft beer trails.

·       Less than an hour away from Orlando’s theme parks, visitors can relax on the 24 miles of the Canaveral National Seashore and watch a rocket launch from Kennedy Space Centre.

VISITFLORIDA.com

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Picture Credit: From Top -  'Naples, FL beach' by Ebyabe via Wikimedia Commons: KSC-2014-1249 (01/23/2014) - CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. via http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/

Daily flights to Nova Scotia

CANADIAN airline WestJet is to start daily flights from Glasgow to Halifax, Canada, next year. The new route will be the carrier’s first in the UK and will run each day to Nova Scotia from May 30 to October 24. 

The journey time will be five hours 15 minutes and will be on a Boeing NG737-700 with 136 seats. Passengers will also be able to connect to destinations including Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and 16 other cities.

WestJet launched its first transatlantic service from Dublin this year.

Amanda McMillan, managing director of Glasgow Airport said: ‘Scotland has always enjoyed a close relationship with Canada. Not only will the daily service to Halifax provide our customers with greater choice, it will also strengthen our long haul connectivity.’

Canada is Glasgow’s second largest international market, welcoming 37,000 Canadians every year.

Mike Cantlay, chairman of VisitScotland said: ‘Some 4.7 million Canadians have Scottish ancestry, with 24% of them wanting to visit Scotland in search of those roots. The new WestJet route from Halifax to Glasgow presents a sizeable opportunity for the tourism industry in Scotland to tap into an ancestral market worth up to £450 million over the next five years.’


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Picture Credit: From Top -  'Canada - flag' by By Robo at sk.wikipedia [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons; 'Kelvingrove museum, Glasgow' By Thyes via Wikimedia Commons

Cumbria targets activity tourism

ACTIVITY tourism will be a focus in Cumbria as the region’s authorities confirmed an investment to become the ‘adventure capital of the UK’.

Cumbria Tourism is working with the Forestry Commission, Lake District National Park Authority, and National Trust to develop a strategy based on activities such as walking, cycling, and water sports.

The programme aims to improve and add more outdoor activities and events across the county.

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‘Come to Britain’ call to Columbians

A DELEGATION of UK tourism businesses joined VisitBritain and UKinbound recently for a multi-city tourism roadshow in Colombia to promote Britain as a tourist destination.

VisitBritain’s Nurture Market project fosters links with emerging markets in which the tourism agency does not currently have a physical presence. The number of visits from Colombia to Britain – 24,000 in 2013 – is currently small, but the market is growing.   

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Picture Credit: Google Maps

Accessible Britain

NEW ONLINE … The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain ... features reviews of accessible attractions and recommended scenic drive routes such as:

 ~ An Artistic Drive through East Anglia, 

 ~ Head to Constable Country and 

 ~ Take in the views at Stour Valley and Dedham Vale, 

 ~ The Lake District has some of the UK’s finest scenery and the 47-mile route takes in the pretty village of Buttermere, the wild and dramatic views from Honnister Pass and the classic Lakeland vistas at Borrowdale Valley. 

 ~ Alternatively, an 86-mile route through the Scottish Highlands and across the Isle of Skye offers incredible views of mountains, glens, and lochs. 

The guide – The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain - developed in association with Motability, the car scheme for disabled people – features more than 200 reviews and ideas for days out across the UK including reviews of some of the country’s most beautiful and accessible town.


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See the blast-off!

KENNEDY Space Centre Visitor Complex guests can experience the sights and sounds of the launch of an Atlas V rocket October 29. 

The rocket will blast off from the nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, with the launch scheduled for 1:21 p.m (local time). 


The rocket will carry GPS satellites for the US military.

Pictured left at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Launch Complex 41 is an Atlas V with NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite back-dropped by the rising sun looking across the Banana River.
Space for the launch viewing is limited and available on a first come, first served basis. 

Visitor Complex admission tickets can be purchased at www.KennedySpaceCenter.com


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Picture Credit: From Top -  KSC-2014-1156 (01/23/2014) --- CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.; KSC-2014-1155 KSC-2014-1155 (01/22/2014) --- CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. via  http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/