UK hospitality can create a further 236,000 jobs by 2015

13th October 2010, 10:01am

The British Hospitality Association, in a report published today, Creating jobs in Britain - A Hospitality Economy Proposition, says that the hospitality industry, which currently employs over 2.4 million people, has the potential to generate a further 236,000 jobs by 2015.

But introducing the report on the future of the industry at a reception at the House of Commons, Ufi Ibrahim, chief executive, said that global competition represented a real threat to British hospitality and tourism.

"China is a country that has officially adopted tourism as one of the five pillars of its economy. There, hospitality and tourism is an engine for job creation and the country has invested heavily in infrastructure, in hospitality skills and education. Already, it is the second largest tourism economy in the world, second only to the United States. The United Kingdom is seventh..

"It's time that we in Britain recognised this. And it's time that we took steps to ensure not only our survival in global hospitality and tourism, but – far more important – that we secure our growth.

"We are seeking a real change from the new government so that it champions the hospitality industry through a strong partnership that benefits members, the wider society and the UK economy in general."

She said that at time when the government's spending review would lead to redundancies and job losses, the hospitality industry could become one of the key drivers of economic recovery and sustainable growth. But she warned that government policies and regulations could either make or break the BHA's objective to generate 236,000 additional jobs by 2015.

To achieve this, she said the industry needed to grow and this could only be brought about in partnership with government.

"Global competition in tourism is intense and gets stronger every year," she said. "We need to ensure that we can meet this competition through a UK hospitality and tourism industry that works in partnership with government".

"We have a tremendous opportunity to see substantial and beneficial growth from the sector at a time when the country is emerging from recession and needs all the jobs that can be created – jobs which hospitality can provide. But to be able to do this, we must have an enduring commitment from the government at the highest level.

"The prize is the creation of hundreds of thousands of additional jobs by 2015 – at a time when there are huge financial cut backs and fewer jobs throughout the British economy."

Related Articles:

• 13 Oct 2010 - New report shows hospitality industry to be UK’s fifth largest employer
• 07 Oct 2010 - The hospitality sector sends message to Government on licensing law proposals
• 01 Oct 2010 - BHA to launch economic plan for hospitality
• 25 Aug 2010 - The Institute of Hospitality to deliver second management briefing

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