Prime Minister Backs APPG Events Inquiry

Ahead of the launch this month of the 2014 Britain for Events campaign, the industry body and All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Inquiry for events received endorsement from Prime Minster David Cameron for their ongoing promotion of business tourism in the UK.  

 

Mr. Cameron congratulated the campaign on its recent work with the APPG and subsequent report, having received a copy by APPG Chair Nick de Bois MP. 

 

In his letter, the Prime Minister wrote: “Business and events tourism represents an important and growing sector of our economy, so I do welcome the efforts of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Events for the publication of this Inquiry Report.”   

 

He continued: “The Government looks forward to working with the APPG for Events in the future and continues to recognise the significant work it performs in helping to attract world class business to our shores.” 

 

This follows the launch at International Confex of the Events are GREAT report, which revealed an increase in direct spend by event attendees of £3 billion since 2010 to £39.1 billion. 

 

Michael Hirst, campaign supporter and Chair of the Business Visits & Events Partnership comments: “The work the APPG inquiry and campaign have done over the last year has been great and receiving glowing recognition from the Prime Minister is deserved endorsement for their commitment to the events industry. Without doubt bringing the APPG together has been a great challenge but has shown that there is support and ambition out there from government for the development and continued growth of the events industry.”  

 

“It’s now up to the industry working in partnership with government to see through the various recommendations in the Inquiry report”.

 

The next eight months will see the Britain for Events campaign presence at the International Festival for Business in July and at its new creation, the National Events Month in October.  

 

Since publication of the APPG Inquiry, copies of the report were sent to the Prime Minister and other Government Ministers and government agencies. Secretaries of State were asked by the Prime Minister to outline their views on issues raised within the report as it affected their respective departments.