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The increase in visitor numbers to London – which will help the economy across the country – is excellent news and shows how the aviation industry can help lead the UK’s economic recovery. In order to fully take advantage of the growth in numbers of visitors, all the parts of the jigsaw need to fit together.  Aviation has a big role to play in supporting inbound tourism. 75 per cent of travellers arrive in the UK by air.  The UK has targets to increase the number of international visitors to the UK and without the infrastructure to cope with the estimated doubling in visitors by 2030, 500,000 new jobs in the tourism sector would be put at risk.

Visitors need to be able to travel quickly and conveniently to the UK; and on arrival reach their chosen destination. Then, whilst here, they require accommodation and need to be fed and entertained. All of these parts of the jigsaw have whole industries associated with them. A healthy flow of visitors will create jobs which will lead to greater prosperity, not only in London, but all across the regions where a lot of the UK’s attractions are situated. Aviation (for an island nation) is instrumental to this process, and will play a big part in the success of the 2012 Olympics.

The second steep rise in Air Passenger Duty in 2010 - which the public see as a stealth tax with wings - will do nothing for the environment. It won’t stop flying: potential visitors to the UK will simply fly – and spend their money – elsewhere.  Indeed, air transport is growing to meet demand – across the globe from Europe to China to Dubai in the middle.

The previous Mayor of London – despite his opposition to a third runway at Heathrow – claimed that 200 million Chinese will soon be able to afford to visit London and we should fight for a good share of that market.  Quite how we do that without adequate airport capacity I don’t know.  What I do know is that is we can’t accommodate them, they won’t stop flying – they’ll simply go elsewhere.

The increase in visitor numbers to London – which will help the economy across the country – is excellent news and shows how the aviation industry can help lead the UK’s economic recovery.  In order to fully take advantage of the growth in numbers of visitors, all the parts of the jigsaw need to fit together.  Aviation has a big role to play in supporting inbound tourism. 75 per cent of travellers arrive in the UK by air.  The UK has targets to increase the number of international visitors to the UK and without the infrastructure to cope with the estimated doubling in visitors by 2030, 500,000 new jobs in the tourism sector would be put at risk.

Visitors need to be able to travel quickly and conveniently to the UK; and on arrival reach their chosen destination. Then, whilst here, they require accommodation and need to be fed and entertained. All of these parts of the jigsaw have whole industries associated with them. A healthy flow of visitors will create jobs which will lead to greater prosperity, not only in London, but all across the regions where a lot of the UK’s attractions are situated. Aviation (for an island nation) is instrumental to this process, and will play a big part in the success of the 2012 Olympics.

The second steep rise in Air Passenger Duty in 2010 - which voters  see as a stealth tax with wings - will do nothing for the environment. It won’t stop flying: potential visitors to the UK will simply fly – and spend their money – elsewhere.  Indeed, air transport is growing to meet demand – across the globe from Europe to China to Dubai in the middle.