The British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions (BALPPA) held its AGM and annual Parliamentary Lunch on March 10th., discussions at the AGM covering a number of subjects which are currently impacting significantly on the organisation’s operating members.

The agenda began with the approval of various rule changes and the election of a second vice-chairman, Adrian Mahon from Merlin Entertainments being elected to the position, before Chairman Tim Batstone provided his annual report.

Mr. Batstone highlighted a number of subjects, among them noting that BALPPA’s political profile had continued to be raised with the help of Politics International and the lobbying sub-committee’s activities. It was because of this, he said, that the decision had been taken to carry out an updated VAT study, The Impact of Lower VAT Rates on UK Visitor Attractions and Accommodation 2008, which had been officially launched earlier that morning.

He then reported  that BALPPA representatives had met the director of the Heritage Lottery Fund to share the association’s concerns over where funding is placed, and also mentioned BALPPA’s activities relating to double British Summer Time and the work being done to ensure the subject was taken more seriously by government.

The Chairman then moved on to the new Gambling Act which had had a “marked and poor effect on members,” adding that BALPPA was running a campaign to get some assistance in this area in political circles. He also informed the meeting that Chief Executive Colin Dawson had appeared before a Commons select committee on tourism to put across various concerns relating to members and the industry generally.

Mr. Batstone then recalled the success of various association events during 2007/08, including a successful annual dinner held in January at which a donation of £16,000 had been handed to the Teenage Cancer Trust as a result of monies raised at a number of previous BALPPA events.

To conclude, Mr. Batstone thanked a several BALPPA representatives for their work and support during the past year, including membership services manager Hannah Carmichael, vice-chairman John Bollom and Chief Executive Colin Dawson, while also singling out Richard Pawley and thanking him for his 17 years as BALPPA’s health and safety representative, Richard having retired from this position in the latter part of 2007.

Parliamentary lunch

The AGM was followed by BALPPA’s annual parliamentary lunch, to which members of both houses are invited. Around 35 guests joined over 60 BALPPA members for the occasion, at which Chairman Tim Batstone highlighted various subjects of concern to members in a speech during the lunch.

He noted that BALPPA facilities provided 75m. superb visitor experiences annually and that the UK industry was “a world class act,” being home to the second largest attraction operator in the world in Merlin Entertainments, along with many other world class facilities.

“There is true quality in our attractions in the UK,” he noted, “and we also export our creativity and flair, but we are often taken for granted. Not enough is done to help the tourism and leisure industry. We are an £85 billion industry but could be bigger.”

He continued by noting several areas which currently impacted on BALPPA member attractions, including the uncompetitive position of the UK in relation to VAT at attractions compared to other European countries, the campaign for lighter evenings (the Daylight Saving campaign) and the difficulties faced by seaside towns as they continue to compete against cheap overseas package tours.

The response came from Don Foster, MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for the DCMS, who began by assuring BALPPA members that, although “us MPs are not very popular, we do all believe in taking tourism seriously. We are aware of all the figurers and equally aware of the concerns you have in various areas.”

He said some governments in the past had not done enough for the industry and cited the reduction in funding for VisitBritain announced a few months ago by the present government as a backward step, particularly when London is to host the Olympic Games in 2012 and the legacy this could leave. There was a “fantastic opportunity,” he said, for the government to provide extra support to the industry, adding that “you have some fantastic messages as Tim Batstone has said.” In conclusion he said that 2012 was “a beacon to look forward to.”

For further information please contact BALPPA Chief Executive Colin Dawson on +44 (0)207 403 4455, email balppa1@btconnect.com