15. To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment she has made of the impact of tourism on economic growth in the UK; and if she will make a statement. (81377)

Tourism is estimated to have contributed 3.4 per cent. to the UK economy, in terms of gross value added (GVA), in 2003. Industry turnover in this year was £74 billion.

Average growth of the tourism sector between 1999 and 2003 (the last year for which complete data are available) was 2.2 per cent. per annum. This is in line with the growth of the wider economy.

17. To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent estimate she has made of the contribution of tourism to the UK economy; and if she will make a statement. (81379)

Tourism is estimated to have contributed 3.4 per cent. to the UK economy, in terms of gross value added (GVA), in 2003. Industry turnover in this year was £74 billion. Average growth of the tourism sector between 1999 and 2003 (the last year for which complete data are available) was 2.2 per cent. per annum. This is in line with the growth of the wider economy.