In this update…

• Tax-free shopping – request for info
• Package Travel Regulations consultation – coming ‘shortly’
• House of Commons library research paper on short-term lets
• Strong recovery of the events market recorded
• YHA Trustee recruitment

Visit Northumberland – Head of Marketing and Partnership job vacancy

Tax-free shopping – request for info

Our colleagues in the Association for International Retail (AIR) are encouraging everyone to submit views and evidence to HM Treasury about the impact of the abolition of tax-free shopping for international visitors. 

You will have seen significant amounts of press coverage of this issue. Collectively we are simply asking HMT to conduct an evidence-based review of the impact of the policy. Analysis by Oxford Economics suggests that HMT are massively overestimating the cost of this policy when in fact, they believe, there would be a net benefit to the Treasury. We want HMT to look again. But HMT need the evidence to encourage them to do that.

Check out AIR’s webpage with more information, resources, and details of their call to action.

Package Travel Regulations consultation – coming ‘shortly’

The new Department of Business and Trade (DBT) have been promising to launch a consultation on Package Travel Regulations for some time. They had told us they wanted to get it out by Easter. Clearly, that did not happen.

I have had it confirmed that they are still planning to consult on PTR reform and we should expect to see it ‘shortly’ and that DBT are keen to consult with the Alliance on it. We have established a PTR Policy Working Group to work up our response and position to such a consultation. If you are not already on that group and would like to be added please let me know.

House of Commons library research paper on short-term lets

The House of Commons library creates neutral and authoritative research papers on policy matters primarily for MPs and their staff, but they are freely available. 

They recently published a paper entitled “The growth in short-term lettings (England)” which colleagues may find of interest.

Strong recovery of the events market recorded

UKEVENTS have shared the results of the UK Conference and Meeting Survey 2023 (UKCAMS)

The UKCAMS report shows that, in 2022, there were an estimated 1.02 million conferences and meetings in the UK, representing a substantial recovery from 2020 and 2021 (0.2 million and 0.44 million events respectively). Such events generated an estimated £16.3 billion of direct expenditure in venues and the wider destination, compared with an estimated £4.9 billion in 2021, and only slightly below the pre-Covid level of £17.6 billion in 2019.

More info via the UKEVENTS website.

YHA Trustee recruitment

YHA are currently looking for people to join their Board of Trustees. If you would like to know more, check out their LinkedIn post, and do share in your networks.

Visit Northumberland – Head of Marketing and Partnership job vacancy

Visit Northumberland has an exciting opportunity for a marketing professional to join their leadership team as Head of Marketing and Partnerships.  

The main purpose of the role is to develop and lead the Northumberland marketing and partnership strategy, managing the marketing and partnerships team in its implementation.

As the county’s official VisitEngland accredited Local Visitor Economy Partnership, Visit Northumberland provides the leadership, influence and strategic drive to realise the vision of putting Northumberland firmly on the map as a premier visitor destination. The full-time role comes with an annual salary of £37,500 and is based in Morpeth.  Full details can be found here and applications close on Friday 23 June.