Government instigates independent review of British Tourist Authority

An independent review into the British Tourist Authority aims to ensure the organisation is “efficiently and effectively” supporting the development of the UK’s tourism industry.

It covers how the umbrella operator of national tourist boards VisitEngland and VisitBritain supports places across the country “to develop and market high-quality tourist offerings, create jobs in the sector and boost the economy”.

The review is part of a larger cross-government assessment instigated by the Cabinet Office last year to continuously evaluate if public organisations are meeting their objectives and effectively delivering results for taxpayers.

Emir Feisal, non-executive director at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and chair of audit & risk committee, has been selected to act as the independent lead reviewer. He is supported by officials from the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS).

The review team is engaging with a broad range of stakeholders in the tourism sector operating across the UK.

Recommendations outlined in the final report will be published once the review is complete, but no timeframe has been made public.

Tourism minister John Whittingdale said: “Tourism showcases the best that Britain has to offer, our rich culture, heritage and natural beauty. It accounts for over four million jobs across the UK and remains a strong driver of growth, contributing hundreds of billions of pounds to the economy every year.

“As tourism continues to recover after the pandemic, it is only right that there is an independent health check of the British Tourist Authority to recognise areas of success and where we can improve to realise the industry’s full potential.”