Topic: Scandalous? £4m government campaign branded 'waste of public money'

According to Travel Weekly, a new government funded tv advertising campaign aimed at pursuading Brits to stay in the UK during the Olympics has been branded “scandalous” and a waste of public money.



Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced the £4 million push last week – the biggest ever domestic tourism television campaign.

The advert will use the strapline: “There's so much happening in Britain in 2012, why on earth would you want to go abroad!"

Hunt admitted that the Olympics are likely to put many usual inbound tourists off coming to London because they fear the City will be too busy and chaotic.

But the latest attempt to discourage Britons from going abroad has been slammed by the outbound travel industry.

Travel Republic's managing director Kane Pirie, said: “This is a scandalous waste of public funds, not least as it is totally futile.

“The government is in danger of positioning itself between UK voters and their most loved annual treat - a break in the sun at least once a year.

“With eye-watering increases in hidden holiday taxes this year - both APD and Atol – the government seems hell bent on crippling the outbound travel industry. Using some of those taxes to openly campaign against us is the last straw for me.

“We have created 250 precious jobs in the UK, the sector is a massive national employer, but where is the government action to support us?”

Travel Counsellors chairman David Speakman described the campaign as “another irrelevant decision, from an incompetent minister in a dysfunctional Government”.

“Why should taxpayers have to pay £4m to be persuaded to stay at home to watch the Olympics on television (as there are no tickets) when it would have made more sense and been more cost effective to give £4m worth of free Olympic tickets to the public.

“Once again we see a public servant spending taxpayers’ money that he would not have spent in that way if it had been his own money. I despair at the waste and the incompetence of politicians.”

Steve Endacott, On Holiday Group chief executive, added: "What an outrageous message.

“I naively thought we had a democracy in this country where we have a choice of staying in the rainy, expensive UK or going abroad for guaranteed sunshine and great value.

“Ok, yes, I'm exaggerating but if it's ok for the Government, then it's ok for me."

And Hays Travel managing director and founder John Hays said: "In this age of austerity and government cuts, to spend money on a national TV campaign that will have dubious results is hardly a good use of taxpayers' money."

Bookable Holidays director Jason Dwyer said he believed the campaign may have the opposite effect to the one intended.

“People go away to get away and I think the London Olympics is no exception. Whatever convincing the government wants to do to get people to stay in the UK it will have the opposite effect and simply remind people to hurry and book a holiday before they all sell out.

“London will be mayhem and any opportunity to get as far away as possible will be welcomed.”

John Bevan, UK managing director of Voyage Privé, said: “It’s all well and good telling people to stay in the UK, but with the drop in the euro many destinations are suddenly much more affordable close to home.

“And let's be honest; eating out and entertaining the family in England is not cheap. So I think that the old favourites, Spain and Greece will really benefit this summer.”

Midcounties Co-op travel general manager Sue Reid said she would have backed the campaign if the government had directed people to book their domestic break through an agent.

"A lot of people think that you can't buy a UK holiday from a travel agent, so we'd be alright with the government's message about staying in the UK if they also pushed consumers to us.

“So their message about not going abroad should involve travel agents. We want to sell the product that the UK tour operators want us to sell."

What are your thoughts on the matter? How do you feel about the £4m campaign? Do you plan to stay in the UK, or go abroad this summer?

Well its one thing every Government does well and thats waste money............................................. .............Carol

QUOTE:

Well its one thing every Government does well and thats waste money............................................. .............Carol

Indeed....Mind you if the government could guarantee the weather we would holiday in the UK more...

TFL are already warning of queues of up to an hour on some mainline tube stations during the Olympics.
And asking employers in London to let their staff work from home if at all possible.

Shooting themselves in the foot comes to mind.

Yes, and won't it be fun (!!) if the tube drivers call another strike in pursuit of even more money than they've already had? Imagine the chaos then .....
Personally, we've made arrangements to be out of the country for the duration .....

Cheers,
Lynn

And now...........turn it round to supporting our own Tourist Industry. Thousands of jobs in hotels etc, many more in manning 'Tourist Attractions' many of these jobs are seasonal (not always through choice) - you only have 26 weeks -April to October - to make any money.
Over the past 3 or 4 years there was a steady increase in foreign visitors to this country and very welcome they were. Last year there was a marked drop in overseas visitors to our shores and that effect was felt. If we can encourage our own people to holiday here, local businesses benefit. By doing so, if it turns a profit - the Government benefits from more money in its coffers.
We are lucky to live in a beautiful country (including Scotland, Wales and Ireland) but how many take the time to explore it.

I can fully understand the reasons for jetting off abroad - mainly the weather these days - I do so myself but there is a bigger picture.

This campaign is not going to stop people taking that special holiday but if it also shows people the places nearer at hand - and they begin to visit - even if it is only for a long weekend break to begin with - then it could be money well spent.

Oh as if me staying at home in not so sunny Bolton is going to have any effect on the games in LONDON ..that i'm not interested in or going to watch on tv anyway

Friends have tickets for themselves and son.....the cheapest room in a hotel they can find is £800, so they reckon they'll drive home to Lancashire each night.....
Jo.

.....the cheapest room in a hotel they can find is £800

Oh no, please tell me you're joking??!!! I know London's the most appalling rip-off, even by capital city standards, but that's just insane!!!

Cheers,
Lynn

why on earth would anyone give up their holiday to stay at home to either go to or most likely watch the Olympics on tv, i would rather extract teeth ugh! Got no time for it, has cost millions and the stadium is stuck in a right dump of an area....no thanks!