Job search
Job Search
Latest news
More news: (showing 1 - 20 of 13727)           
UK only International

VisitBritain rebuts "Fawlty Towers" attacks by tabloids

By Chris Dodd    07 Jan 2014

VisitBritain has given a robust response to tabloid criticism of market profiles which it publishes to help UK tourism businesses cater for inbound tourists.

Reports by a number of tabloid newspapers likened VisitBritain's advice on cultural customs to the famous BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers, suggesting some of the tips border on the offensive.

The advice was reported as featuring tips such as not to mock Indian accents or that people from Hong Kong are superstitious and prefer not to sleep in four poster beds. However, VisitBritain says the advice has been misrepresented and decontextualised:

"The points that have been picked out and repeated are random, and don't paint a true picture of the market profiles," Visit Britain chief executive Sandie Dawe told Leisure Opportunities.

A look at VisitBritain's Market and Trade Profiles shows rather than being a dos and don'ts list as reported, the profiles are actually in-depth, 60-page briefings that have been sensationalised and paraphrased by the tabloids.

Far from being a leaked or recently devised list as claimed, the comprehensive documents have been on the VisitBritain website for a number of years and are designed to help businesses cater for overseas visitors.

Dawe added: "These profiles - put together by staff who are native to the country featured - provide valuable information on cultural differences and market trends for the industry and have been made to look silly through creative cherry-picking."

She also indicated that none of the newspapers had contacted the Visit Britain press office to check the accuracy of the claims prior to publication, although the Mail Online did carry a quote from VisitBritain marketing director Joss Croft.

Sign up for FREE ezines

Company profile

Company profile: Alliance Leisure
The company’s core business is the provision of facility development and support for local authorities, educational establishments and leisure trusts that want to improve or expand the leisure products and services they offer.
View full profile >
More company profiles

Featured Supplier

Sprung Gym-Flooring: leading fitness flooring provider paves the way for top performance
Introducing Sprung Gym-Flooring, where innovation meets excellence in the world of flooring and sports solutions.
View full details >
More featured suppliers

Property & Tenders

Location: Loughton, IG10
Company: Knight Frank
Location: Grantham, Leicestershire
Company: Belvoir Castle
Location: Verwood, Dorset
Company: AVISON YOUNG
Location: Hall Place House, Bexley, DA5 1PQ
Company: London Borough of Bexley
Location: 15 Concessions across the nation's forests
Company: Forestry England
More properties & tenders

Diary dates

11-14 Apr 2024
Exhibition Centre , Cologne, Germany
22-24 Apr 2024
Galgorm Resort, York
10-12 May 2024
China Import & Export Fair Complex, Guangzhou, China
23-24 May 2024
Large Hall of the Chamber of Commerce (Erbprinzenpalais), Wiesbaden, Germany
More diary dates