Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Tourism Sector

Thursday 16 April 2026 · 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 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The tourism Minister has held several meetings with the industry during English Tourism Week.
  • The Minister expressed willingness to follow up on transforming the Rectory building in Weymouth into a cultural and visitor centre.
  • The tourism industry has faced significant pressures, including job losses, due to recent challenges such as the pandemic and national insurance increases.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Greg Smith Con Mid Buckinghamshire
Business & Trade
Context

The MP is concerned about the impact of high business taxes on local businesses in his constituency that are crucial to the tourism industry.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to support the tourism sector. I am grateful to the Secretary of State for that answer. With people coming to Buckinghamshire to enjoy the beauty of our countryside walking in the Chilterns, the tourism sector is important, but with the punitive levels of business tax hitting all those businesses—such as camping at Orchard View and country retreats at Starveall farm—talk of a tourist tax and an overnight levy could be the straw that breaks the camel's back. Can the Secretary of State confirm that she is actively lobbying the Chancellor not to bring in such a levy?

Answer from Lisa Nandy

The tourism Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley South (Stephanie Peacock), has of course discussed these issues with the industry. She has held several meetings with the industry as part of English Tourism Week, and has also discussed this issue with colleagues in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and in the Treasury. However, the idea behind a tourism levy is that it would be locally driven and led. It would enable local areas to decide how they wanted to apply it, so that would be a matter for Buckinghamshire itself.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary of State did not confirm if she is actively lobbying the Chancellor against introducing a tourism tax or overnight levy.

How: Discussed Issues With Industry, Local Areas [K Can Decide

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Q2 Greg Smith Con Mid Buckinghamshire
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The MP wants to transform an iconic but vacant building in Weymouth, known as the Rectory, into a cultural and visitor center.

Question

In the heart of Weymouth, the Rectory is an iconic building, but it has stood empty for over a decade. We want to transform the Rectory building into a cultural and visitor centre, hosting art, boosting the local tourism economy and welcoming visitors to Weymouth all year round. With that in mind, will the Secretary of State meet me and all the key stakeholders so that we can finally crack on and deliver the exciting Rectory proposals?

Answer from Lisa Nandy

It does sound very exciting. The tourism Minister and/or I would be happy to follow that up with my hon. Friend and make sure that we can deliver on that exciting project.

Answered
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Q3 Lloyd Hatton Lab South Dorset
Economy Employment Business & Trade
Context

The MP is concerned about the negative impact of Labour's policies, particularly the increase in national insurance, on tourism and hospitality businesses.

Question

Tourism and hospitality businesses across the UK are struggling. Once profitable businesses are now letting people go, not hiring or closing altogether as a direct result of Labour's policies, in particular the national insurance increases. That has led to 100,000 job losses in the UK in hospitality and tourism alone over the last two years. The Government have cut funding to our tourism bodies and are now planning on imposing more regulations and a whole new tourism tax. Can the Minister please explain how on earth less support, more regulations and higher taxes are meant to help the tourism industry?

Answer from Lisa Nandy

I thank the shadow Secretary of State for his support for the tourism industry. I recognise that it has had significant pressures in recent years, particularly with the pandemic, but I am proud of our tourism industry; it is second to none and delivering in every part of the country. We have put the tourism industry at the centre of our attention with the visitor economy growth strategy. We see it as an area of great potential, and the tourism Minister is working closely with the industry to unlock the benefits for the whole country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary of State did not provide specific explanations on how less support, more regulations, and higher taxes would help the struggling tourism industry.

How: Recognise Significant Pressures, Proud Of Our Tourism Industry

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