South Down MP Margaret Ritchie joined leading figures in the UK tourism industry in the Houses of Parliament to call for a £4 billion boost to the UK economy. Ms Ritchie met with representatives of Merlin Entertainments, Inter Continental Hotels Group (IHG) and the British Hospitality Association for a roundtable discussion on the future of the tourism industry should the sector see the VAT cut it is calling for. Cut Tourism VAT is a coalition of hotels and visitor attractions calling for VAT on Tourism to be cut from 20 per cent to 5 per cent in the upcoming budget. Independent research shows that this reduction would mean an extra 130 jobs and an additional £3.8m economic boost for South Down. “A reduction of VAT on travel and tourism from 20 per cent to 5 per cent would make a huge difference to South Down resulting in an extra 130 jobs and an additional £3.8m to the local economy,” said Ms Ritchie. “That’s why I am backing the campaign to cut tourism VAT an am asking the Chancellor of the Exchequer to give tourism in South Down a well deserved boost.”
Newry Democrat
3rd March 2015
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