I am delighted to say that these have demonstrated how central and regional government can work with the industry to deliver a real and better change for the better for the tourism sector. 

Looking through today’s attendance list is proof of that: we welcome a diverse range of organisations from the private and public sectors.

And I am now very pleased to inherit and take this work forward.

Tourism and Land- use planning

Together, we have achieved what I expect to be a solid and demonstrable change in the way tourism planning issues are dealt with on the ground.

My colleague the Communities Minister Iain Wright, asked me to say a few words on his behalf: "The planning system plays a key role in ensuring the growth and development of the tourism industry. Good planning can bring stakeholders together in a positive and mutually beneficial way.”

We have now got a much, much better planning balance between meeting the needs of business, and managing the effects of tourism on local communities. 

I know full well as a former Councillor that getting that balance right is not just important to the industry, but to all of us as citizens.  As we sit here today and look out over to the Tower of London we can see the new buildings built around it and balance between the two.

When it is got right, you get a success story:

One recent example I thought of was Grosvenor's Liverpool One - which is an exemplar of current 'place making' in the North West region, and one of the best in the UK.  Mike Burchnall, then Liverpool's chief planner, received an MBE. 

It was a ‘Planning led’ regeneration initiative which brought together conservation, connectivity – providing links between the main retail area and Liverpool’s world heritage quarter- culture, tourism, accessibility, open space and quality public realm.

It also tackled issues of poverty, equality and unemployment and ended up attracting £900 million of direct private capital investment. And it was all about involving people from the beginning and getting things right first time. 

And I’m sure that many of you can think of similar success stories, which demonstrate the benefits of a positive interaction between planners, developers, public servants and local politicians.

Only if we do that can we get high quality tourism developments, which allow the industry to seize opportunities and innovate, while allowing communities to reap the full benefits of what has been built.

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The New Good Practice Guide on Planning for Tourism

 Now the principle of what we are building this one is the Good Practice Guide on Planning for Tourism, published in May 2006.DCMS is proud of the big part it played in the success of the Guide.

 We were told that initially it neither fully reflected the industry’s economic potential and contribution, nor addressed its needs. 

  We listened – and we made sure that Ministers and officials from both Departments worked with the industry and we produced a new policy document which was really fit for purpose. 
 
And that worked.

As the Tourism Alliance said “it’s an excellent example of what can be achieved by Government Departments”.

It had one of the largest mail outs that they had ever done with over 13,000 copies going to interested parties across England.

And the planning consultants Humbert Leisure described the Guidance as “the best thing that has happened in tourism planning for 25 years.”

Praise indeed and well done to all involved.

All this shows what can be achieved by people working together in good faith - planners, business people, councillors, economic development officers, and government at all levels.

What the Guidance makes very clear is the importance of tourism in social, economic and environmental terms;

It takes full account of the need for sustainable   development;

And, I think this is really important, it strengthens the case for tourism at the regional level - with less need for prescriptive guidance at the national level.

The Tourism needs for Cornwall will be different to those of London or Greater Manchester.  Similarly, the needs of business tourism will be different in rural areas to cities. 

So it is right that the RDAs remain responsible for developing tourism in the regions, and this is built into the new framework.

 This is what the Guidance says: “regional and local planning authorities in England should have regard to the guidance in this document when preparing development plans. And the guidance may also be material consideration to individual planning applications”.  These two items are pretty important.

 So we have a new framework which balances the needs of industry with those of communities, and which takes full account of regional priorities.

But to make that framework a success we now need to ensure that the principles it advocates are understood, taken into account and put into practice.

Let me quote you a phrase from a XVI century Italian statesman, Francesco Guicciardini   He said:  “In matters of business, take this as a principle, that it is not enough to give things their beginning, direction or impulse; we must also follow them up.  He who follows a different plan will often assume things to be ended which in truth they have only just begun.’’

And we are following this up. 

 We have got to carry on:

• … raising awareness,
• … to disseminate the principles of the Guidance ;
• … to generate positive debate, ideas and suggestions on how   to take this agenda forward; 

and to help in the creation of regional and cross-regional networks.

Why this is important – the Significance of Tourism

 I don’t think I need to spend too long telling you why all this is important.
 
 Tourism is our fifth biggest industry, worth £85 billion a year or 3.5% of the economy.

1.4 million people directly depend on it for their livelihoods.

 In Britain just as much as Benidorm, if tourism is unplanned, it can be socially, culturally and economically disruptive – and can have a devastating effect on fragile environments. 

 But if it’s planned responsibly, tourism can be a positive force for sustainable economic development, conservation and for environmental protection.

• …It can help enhance the visual quality of the site and its surroundings,
• …It can create new features of wildlife interest,
• …by recycling waste, using renewable energy and sourcing produce and materials locally.

Not only that, it can often be the focus of regeneration right across the country in urban and rural areas which otherwise face deprivation.

We in DCMS use Tourism and Culture as a driver of regeneration.

Tourism can not only provide employment, tourism can support and enhance local services and facilities - particularly in rural areas.

And it can support a broader and more vibrant and active community by attracting things like arts, sports or cultural events.

But to make all that happen, our tourism industry must ensure that it offers a high quality of the experience to visitors.  We have taken the catalyst of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 to improve the welcome by improving the quality of staff and accommodation.  Only if we get that right will visitors return home and tell their friends about the great experience they had.

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Tourism and Place Shaping
 I recently saw a presentation by Liverpool City Council as part of its preparations for its year as European Capital of Culture year. 

One sensible thing they said, which is worth repeating is: “If we look after our   visitors, we will eventually be looking after ourselves.”

 Quite often, and I feel as guilty about this as others, we forget the value of the things that surround us. And it is only when we see them through the eyes of visitors that we really start to value what we have. Many, many of us who live and work here in London find that to be true when they show visiting friends, relatives and colleagues around the capital.

And that’s when many of us realise just how important tourism can be to the quality of the places where we live and work.
  
 That is one reason why getting the planning balance right – as I think we now have, in principle, is so important.

The Government’s Local Government White Paper sets out a vision of attractive, prosperous, vibrant safe and strong communities where people want to live and work,  and others want to visit.

For a local authority, that means getting its planning and development its controls right.

It means providing and maintaining key infrastructure such as retail promenades, street furniture, landscaping and parks and gardens.
It means ensuring that our destinations are accessible to all, including people with disabilities, and we can do better at that in the UK.
And it means looking after its cultural assets, subsidised theatres, museums, art galleries, monuments and heritage objects and collections.

Planning is central to all of this.

Some people, I’ve heard in the industry, look at the whole planning process as a barrier for investment.

And the planning process is complex.  It usually does take a long time, but it has to be consultative. The industry and planners should not see each other as enemies, but work together.

Next Steps

Today’s event is the culmination of several months of work.

I am pleased DCMS has been able to take leadership with the industry, Government Offices, the RDAs, and the Tourist Boards.

Since May, we have delivered successful regional seminars in Cambridge, Bolton, Dorking, Nottingham, Newcastle and  Bristol , with more to take place in Leeds.

DCMS will now take forward our work on planning within the framework of the Tourism Strategy for the 2012 Games, which we published on 17 September.

I have seen the outcome of the previous seminar and I look forward to seeing the outcomes from today’s. We have taken on board many vital points already, and I am sure that you will be raising new issues today.
 
After today, we will be looking hard at all these comments, as we map the way forward.  And I can assure you that we will continue to fully involve you, and your representatives in the industry and the public sector, as we take this vital work forward to ensure a lasting legacy.

Starting today, let’s see what we can achieve together.