Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Promoting Coastal Britain

Thursday 3 April 2025 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister aims to integrate creative industries into coastal tourism to attract 50 million international visitors by 2030.
  • Minister is developing a national tourism strategy to include all parts of the UK, addressing challenges faced by coastal regions.
  • Minister is discussing funds for the GREAT campaign despite financial challenges and aims to incorporate stakeholder ideas into the strategy.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jenny Riddell-Carpenter Lab Suffolk Coastal
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The tourism industry in East Suffolk is valued at £693 million and accounts for over 15% of local jobs, but has been impacted by the pandemic. Pre-pandemic visitor numbers are estimated to be down by 2 million.

Question

I am concerned about the impact on coastal tourism in places such as Southwold, Aldeburgh, and Felixstowe. Can the Minister share with me what he is doing to support these areas?

Answer from The Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism (Chris Bryant)

I am keen to integrate creative industries into the visitor economy more effectively. This includes highlighting the Aldeburgh festival and other cultural attractions in East Suffolk such as Maggi Hambling's work in Saxmundham. We aim to attract 50 million international visitors by 2030, with a focus on encouraging tourists beyond London to visit coastal regions like those in Suffolk.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific financial support or marketing initiatives for East Suffolk were not detailed.

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Q2 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Northern Ireland Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The Minister was previously quick to respond on the need for a national tourism strategy. The question seeks confirmation that this includes Northern Ireland, with specific mention of Strangford Lough and Ards Peninsula.

Question

Will the Minister ensure discussions to improve coastal tourism include Northern Ireland? There are many attractions such as Strangford Lough and the Irish Sea to attract visitors.

Answer from The Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism (Chris Bryant)

I am working on a national tourism strategy that should cover all parts of the UK by year-end. This includes addressing challenges faced by coastal regions across the country, including Northern Ireland where creative industries are vital to its tourism economy.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific timeline or funding details were provided for integrating Northern Ireland into national efforts.

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Q3 Saqib Bhatti Con Meriden and Solihull East
Business & Trade
Context

There are concerns within the tourism sector about a purported cut to VisitBritain's budget. This question seeks clarity on this issue, with the aim of supporting government ambitions for UK visitor numbers.

Question

The Government have committed to 50 million visits by 2030. However, there is concern in the tourism sector over a reported cut to the VisitBritain budget. Will the Minister confirm whether there will be any cuts and how much?

Answer from The Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism (Chris Bryant)

I am discussing funds that might be available for the GREAT campaign in the next year. We face financial challenges but are serious about developing a UK-wide visitor economy strategy by incorporating ideas from stakeholders such as the hon Gentleman.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific budget figures and cuts were not confirmed, only that discussions are ongoing.

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