The government has acknowledged the unique contribution of
business events to the wider events industry and agreed to a key
recommendation from the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Committee to explore a more joined-up approach to
supporting the sector.
The government's response to
the committee's report on business events has been published
today alongside correspondence from the British Tourist Authority
on funding for its Business Events Growth Programme. The report
had raised concerns about the decision to reduce the size of
BTA's business events team.
Chair of the DCMS Committee Dame MP said:
Following pressure from the committee, the government has now
said that it recognises the unique contribution conferences,
exhibitions and trade fairs make to the events landscape and
hinted at a more cohesive approach to supporting the sector. It
will now need to make sure that its words are translated into
action.
With this vital industry needing support to further boost its
economic contribution, the unseemly blame game between the
Government and the British Tourism Authority over the withdrawal
of funding from the Business Events Growth Programme is an
unhelpful distraction.
The committee's report, which was published in
July, warned that the UK's multi-billion-pound conference,
exhibition and trade fair sector risked falling behind overseas
competitors and missing out on valuable economic opportunities
without a new focus and commitment to funding from government.
Among the committee's recommendations were for the government to
recognise business events as a distinct, trade-driven sector
separate from major events and tourism policy and for the
establishment of a new long-term national strategy.
The response reveals that business events will be included as
part of a cross-sectoral strategy on major events by spring next
year, with the government acknowledging their own unique
contribution to the events landscape'. It also says that the
forthcoming Visitor Economy Growth Strategy will set out an
ambition and commitment to exploring a more cohesive
cross-government approach to supporting business events.
The response also says that officials are exploring ways to
coordinate government attendance at business events and formalise
the process of securing early advocacy from ministers. The report
pressed the government on ministerial engagement with the sector.
