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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Poor service 'risks tourism jobs' | Poor service 'risks tourism jobs' |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Poor service could cost thousands of jobs in the recession, Britain's tourism chief has said. | Poor service could cost thousands of jobs in the recession, Britain's tourism chief has said. |
| Visit Britain chairman Christopher Rodrigues said he feared foreign tourists would be put off by low standards in hotels and restaurants. | Visit Britain chairman Christopher Rodrigues said he feared foreign tourists would be put off by low standards in hotels and restaurants. |
| Mr Rodrigues told the Independent that the downturn meant establishments could no longer get away with shoddy service. | Mr Rodrigues told the Independent that the downturn meant establishments could no longer get away with shoddy service. |
| He said poor standards could contribute to some of the 50,000 anticipated job losses in the industry this year. | He said poor standards could contribute to some of the 50,000 anticipated job losses in the industry this year. |
| 'Threadbare towels' | 'Threadbare towels' |
| Mr Rodrigues said: "We've had a period in which people could get away with not being of the highest quality. | Mr Rodrigues said: "We've had a period in which people could get away with not being of the highest quality. |
| "We're now in an environment where you have to do quality. Poor value for money and poor service costs jobs and will cost more jobs in a recession. | "We're now in an environment where you have to do quality. Poor value for money and poor service costs jobs and will cost more jobs in a recession. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7818552.stm">Your views on poor service | |
| "Threadbare towels, a previously owned bar of soap and a grumpy person who says 'we don't do breakfast before 8am and we don't do it after 8.12am' - you don't get a lot of happy customers." | "Threadbare towels, a previously owned bar of soap and a grumpy person who says 'we don't do breakfast before 8am and we don't do it after 8.12am' - you don't get a lot of happy customers." |
| Mr Rodrigues, who represents tourism in England, Scotland and Wales, estimated earnings from tourism would fall by £4bn during the recession. | Mr Rodrigues, who represents tourism in England, Scotland and Wales, estimated earnings from tourism would fall by £4bn during the recession. |
| Visit Britain will launch a £6.5m campaign in April aimed at persuading overseas visitors that Britain can offer value for money. | Visit Britain will launch a £6.5m campaign in April aimed at persuading overseas visitors that Britain can offer value for money. |
| Meanwhile, Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Culture Secretary Andy Burnham are holding a summit with British tourism leaders on Thursday in Liverpool. | Meanwhile, Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Culture Secretary Andy Burnham are holding a summit with British tourism leaders on Thursday in Liverpool. |