20 APRIL, 2020
ISSUE. 3
The official e-journal of the Tourism Society
Oliver Bennett, TCN, FTS
IN THIS ISSUE
REMEMBERING MEMBERS
By Tom Buncle FTS, TCN
IT IS TRADITIONAL FOR THE TOURISM SOCIETY TO REMEMBER
MEMBERS
WHO
PASSED
OVER
THE
PREVIOUS YEAR AT THE PRESIDENTS DINNER. AS THE EVENT THIS YEAR HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO COVID-19 WE ARE REMEMBERING THEM IN THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF THE E-JOURNAL.
“Such a lovely guy”. This was the universal response from
friends,
and
former
clients,
after
expressing their deep sadness, on hearing that Oliver Bennett
- OLIVER BENNETT, TCN, FTS
colleagues
had
passed
away
at
the
end
of
March.
Unassuming, direct, and immensely wise, Oliver touched
- JENNIFER EVANS, FTS - LESTER BORLEY CBE, FTS - PROFESSOR CHRISTOPHER HOLLOWAY, FTS
many people’s lives across the world throughout his fascinating and varied career. And he impressed those
TOURISM
IN
A
POST
CORONAVIRUS WORLD BY KEN ROBINSON CBE, FTS, TCN
he met with his kindness, his razor-sharp intellect, and his truly global experience of international development, especially in the tourism sector.
IN THE PREVIOUS ISSUE - GLOBAL TOURISM TRENDS WITNESSED IN WHITBY
A
- PROSPECTS 'VISION 2035' WRITE UP
Class
Honours
degree
in
chemistry
from
Cambridge University may not have been the most obvious route into transport planning, from which, ever the
- CHINESE TOURISM BOOM
First
polymath,
development
Oliver
and
soon
tourism,
gravitated which
towards
absorbed
him
professionally for the rest of his life. After many years, starting with Llewellyn Davies, then Touche Ross and subsequently Deloitte,
20 APRIL, 2020
PAGE. 1
I will be forever grateful to Oliver on a personal professional level for giving me an entrée
into
international
tourism
consultancy, when, not long after we met, he asked me to have a look at a project EMG were running in Namibia. That led not just to more projects with Oliver at EMG, but also to us working together on several projects after he retired from EMG. But, more than that, it
Oliver headed up the London office of Emerging
led to many years of friendship.
Markets Group (Europe), to complement the original EMG team in Washington DC. On retirement he joined
Kind,
a
respected,
consortium
of
tourism
consultants,
Salon
knowledgeable, straightforward,
wise,
widely
witty,
direct,
Hospitality, formed by former Deloitte partner Dries
astute, and open-minded, Oliver was a true
de Vaal. Oliver remained in demand as a highly
citizen of the world, which the projects he
respected independent tourism consultant for the rest
worked on helped to make a better place.
of his life. He had worked in more countries than most
Those of us who knew him as a colleague
of us have ever heard of; gained a reputation that
and friend are privileged to have walked
most of us can only dream of; and always seemed to
some of this journey with him. Our thoughts
know the solution to most problems he encountered.
and deepest sympathy are with his widow, Farida, and his brother, Christopher, who
A keen skier and cyclist, Oliver regularly turned up on
survive him. We can only hope they may
his bicycle to meetings of the Tourism Consultants
take some comfort from knowing the esteem
Network committee, on which he served to the end of
in which this unique man was held by so
his life. On being asked why he had bought a splendid
many around the world, which is now a
new, lightweight bike when he already had a very
considerably poorer place without him.
decent one, he replied “so I can improve my time in
next year’s Ride London” (46 miles). Oliver was 75 at the time……and, to his great credit, he did! People he worked with have commented on how encouraging and supportive he was and how his instincts about what would and would not work were invariably correct It is a measure of the respect in which Oliver was held worldwide that so many people,
not
least
in
senior
levels
of
foreign
governments, relied on his counsel over many years,
Oliver Bennett FTS, TCN, was a member of
often long after a project had finished, which was
the Toursim society for nearly 30 years, a
mostly unpaid but willingly given..
former
treasurer
original council.
and
member
of
the
20 APRIL, 2020
PAGE. 2
Jennifer Evans, FTS
Later on her natural flair for public speaking
led
business
her
into
lecturing
and
She
was
development.
diagnosed
with
bowel
cancer
in
September 2015. Jennie had nothing but praise for the superb care she received, from her oncologist, Dr Nick Reed, to the fantastic chemotherapy nursing team. She was also greatly impressed with the work of Penny Brohn UK, a charity whose
tag
line
is
‘living
well
with
cancer’. She said: “I credit the NHS with
By Stroud News & Journal
saving my life and Penny Brohn with
Tributes have been paid to a 'proud mam of a rugby
showing me how to live it”. She quickly
obsessed son', who was 'at the pitch-side come rain or
became their go-to person to represent
shine'. Jennie Evans, 56, passed away peacefully at home
the
in Hartpury on Monday, August 5, in the company of her
speaking engagements on their behalf.
charity,
doing
various
public
beloved son, Jimmy Evans and her husband Simon Smith. She had been diagnosed with Stage IV bowel cancer back
Jennifer was a member of the Tourism
in September 2015.Her son Jimmy (James) went to
Society for 27 years. An English degree
Thomas Keble School and Jennie was a school governor
graduate at Swansea University she
there from October 2012 until her death. Jimmy played for
took a postgraduate degree in Strategic
Minchinhampton, latterly captaining the Colts, and Jennie
Leadership at University of Warwick.
could always be found pitch-side, cheering the team on,
Her
whatever the weather. Earlier this year, Jimmy organised a
Coordinator, at Welcome Host Wales, to
rugby tournament to raise funds for cancer charity, Penny
Senior Quality Manager At ELWA, Head
Brohn UK. The charity gave a lot of support to Jennie and
of Research and Development at the
she ended up becoming an ambassador for them. Jennie
University of Wales, Head of Business
and her family lived in Chalford Hill a little over five years,
Strategy and Development at the QAA
from 2012 to 2017, but she started life on the other side
and
of the world. She and her three siblings (Tony, Gill and
Gloucestershire’s
Alison) were all born in Singapore, the children of then
Partnership.
barrister John and infant teacher Barbara Lloyd. The family returned to the UK in 1965 and she spent her childhood living near Bristol. When she was 13, the family moved to Pembrokeshire,
West
Wales:
her
fierce
sense
of
Welshness grew from that point, and Pembrokeshire always remained “home”. On her Twitter account Jennie described herself as a 'proud Welsh mam of a rugby obsessed son'. She attended the University of Swansea where she studied English.
career
spanned
Project
from
National
Manager Local
at
Enterprise
20 APRIL, 2020
PAGE.3
Lester Borley, CBE, FTS By Dr Roger Carter MBE, FTS, TCN
Dr Lester Borley, who died towards the end of last year, was one of the most influential players in the UK tourism support structure established by the Development of Tourism Act of 1969 – the structure that oversaw the huge growth of tourism in the following decades. After 15 years working for the then British Travel Association, latterly as Director of its office in Germany, he was appointed as Chief Executive of the new Scottish Tourist Board in 1970.
He
proved to be very able and astute in establishing a strong and effective organisation tourism
in
Scotland,
one
that
to develop
has
continued
through to today, now called VisitScotland. I was one of Lester’s early recruits to STB, as Research and Planning Manager. He took great interest in my area of work, allocating a budget of £2m+ p.a. in today’s money, enabling us to undertake research on tourism markets, resources and
impacts;
strategy
and
prepare
a
undertake
preliminary a
national
comprehensive
A few years later I too moved south to become Director of the Heart of England Tourist Board and found myself working with Lester again, though more remotely. It seemed that Lester was never as happy in London as he had been in Edinburgh; and after nearly 30 years working for tourism organisations, he had the opportunity to change direction and make his mark in the field of heritage conservation, one of his many passions. So it was that in 1983 he returned to Edinburgh as The Director (CEO) of the National Trust for Scotland, bringing new perspectives,
new
approaches
and
new
programme of regional planning studies – mostly
ways of working to the organisation. While
undertaken in partnership with other national
there, Lester became involved actively with
agencies. Lester had a very sharp mind and an
Europa Nostra, and became its part-time
encyclopaedic memory. It was often the case that
Secretary General for three years, after
he could recall more of the detail of reports that
retirement from NTS in 1993 – the year he
my department produced than I could!
received his CBE for his dedication to
In 1975, Lester departed STB, moving to London
tourism and cultural heritage in
to become Chief Executive of the English Tourist
Britain.
Board, a job that he undertook with equal energy and ability.
20 APRIL, 2020
PAGE. 4
In ‘retirement’, Lester continued to be active and energetic. In addition to his work for Europe Nostra, he organised and spoke at many national and international
conferences
on
conservation
and
cultural heritage; contributed to many publications on heritage
management
cultural
traditions;
and
the
undertook
development
of
Professor Christopher Holloway, FTS
post-graduate
teaching; and worked in many European countries, particularly in the east, undertaking missions or projects, mainly on a pro bono basis. I went into consultancy in 1997 and found myself working with Lester yet again, when he was kind enough to invite me on two of his missions to Russia – the first to Yaroslavl, the second to Archangel. Both were highly memorable for many reasons, from the amount of vodka consumed by our hosts over
By David Bruce, MTS
dinner to Lester’s extraordinary knowledge about each of the places we visited – often a source of
Very soon after Chris appointed me to a
amazement for our hosts.
lectureship in tourism at Bristol Polytechnic
I came to regard Lester not only as my mentor but
in 1983, he revealed himself as not the
also as a friend, with a great sense of humour and an
typical business studies teacher
engaging way of sharing his vast knowledge in
saved up to buy an early desktop computer-
stimulating conversation.
And I always enjoyed
an Amstrad, I think, he told me, with little
meeting him and Mary around our home city of
trace of an apology that he'd bought a
Edinburgh, often at Usher Hall concerts. The final
Michael Ayrton sculpture instead!
occasion was at the STB 50th Birthday Party in June
Yet
last year, at which Lester spoke with all his usual
dedicated teacher and mentor of students
erudition.
that I have ever came across. His business
It is sad indeed that this remarkable leader in tourism
was transforming lives and any number of
and heritage conservation is no longer with us.
his HND & in time degree students and the
he
was
the
most
-
having
meticulous
and
Polytechnic and UWE would vouch for that. Although he retired as a Professor in 1997, some are still in touch and even here today. He transformed my life too - ever tolerant of my initial total lack of teaching experience or training, he guided me firmly towards a survivable competence. Lester Borley CBE, FTS, (left) member of the Tourism Society for 42 years
20 APRIL, 2020
PAGE. 5
Chaos really isn't the best model for a lecture
Not only through his undergraduates would he
structure and students, with suitable tutoring,
provide the backbone for so many tourism
really do learn more from each other and from the
businesses in the UK, but those already in a
reflective experience of placement in industry (we
junior role would come to Bristol for an
always visited them wherever there were posted at
academic interlude which would then lead to
home or abroad) and well thought out field study
promotion on their return. I myself employed
trips than they ever will in just formal lectures. And
several of his graduates, and am delighted that
of course, his textbooks provided the factual and
I did so. They would arrive with no illusions
frequently updated underpinning to such practice-
about the travel industry, toughened by their
based
were
summer placements to deal with day to day
independently rated as equivalent of First Class
crises, but equally capable of looking at the
Honours
business in a long-term, analytical framework.
learning.
The
best
dissertations
HND
when
we
projects upgraded
the
course to a Degree in Business studies with
Twenty,
Tourism at UWE
grounding
thirty
and
which
forty
Chris
years
gave
later
them
is
the as
valuable as when they joined. Contribution from April Marjoram
Chris was able to complete his contribution to Not only did Christopher make sure that we all
the latest edition of The Business of Tourism
acquired a thorough understanding of the academic
shortly before he died. It is typical that his
disciplines
also
professionalism never left him, even then. A
constantly insisted that academic knowledge was
commitment was just that, no matter that by
related to the live tourism industry. His active
then he was totally bed-ridden.
underpinning
tourism,
but
he
interest in the progress of each of his students during the course and in their subsequent careers was an invaluable support to individuals and, thus, to the tourism world. Before Chris died I had the opportunity of expressing my heartfelt thanks to him for the impact he had on my career in tourism. Contribution from Neil Taylor I was fortunate to be on the interview panel for Chris when he came to Bristol. It was clear within minutes that he was the ideal candidate for ensuring
that
tourism
studies
at
the
then
Polytechnic would become a serious field in its own right, and no longer a minor adjunct to business
Professor Christopher Holloway, FTS member of
studies.
the Tourism Society for 42 years
20 APRIL, 2020
PAGE. 6
Tourism in a post Coronavirus world By Ken Robinson CBE , FTS, TCN
Coronavirus is devastating for the tourism and leisure sectors globally. For now, the focus
is
on
business
‘discontinuity’,
the
impact of the pandemic on our employees and their
families,
companies will
whether survive
and
and when
how viable
resumption of activity will be possible. In my view, we have every reason to be hopeful and confident
for
the
future,
because
Preconditions for recovery
the
inexorable growth of travel and tourism has
For us in the UK here is light at the end of the
shown that travel and tourism is aspirational
tunnel, but worldwide evidence shows that
– when people can travel they will. Optimistic,
although lockdowns are effective in slowing
braver and more farsighted individuals and
infection rates, they don’t lead to immunity
organisations are already summoning up their
beyond the minority who’ve been infected and
bulldog spirit and looking to the future. The
recover.
media and politicians vie to predict how soon
vulnerable, but only as long as it lasts. The rules
the
is
will be relaxed, a little and for a while, but have
seeking to define our ‘exit strategy’. But I
to be reintroduced if, as seems certain, infection
sense that few appreciate how massively
rates climb again. The determination to rebuild
devastating the pandemic is likely to be, or
must be tempered by reality so what can be
how long it will be before recovery to post-
foreseen? Although international tourism will
lockdown
will
end
and
pandemic levels is practical.
everyone
The
lockdown
shields
the
most
be decimated post-pandemic, there will be great economic and pressures to resume and for consumers who can afford to, there will be strong pent-up demand for holidays at home and abroad. But, the aspiration to travel has pre-requirements, the most relevant of which is that tourists only go to safe and healthy places. Until this can be assured – both en route and at the
destination
–
tourism
volumes
will
be
minimal. A return to previously normal volumes and patterns of activity is not yet even on the horizon.
20 APRIL, 2020
PAGE. 7
Restarting tourism The
key
to
the
recovery
of
tourism
will
be
immunity. If this is a reliable consequence of postinfection-recovery, and immunisation is available for all those who escape infection, I anticipate a requirement on individuals to prove their immunity before
being
internationally.
allowed
to
travel
Such
proof
will
–
at
also
least be
a
requirement for everyone working in the travel and accommodation service chain– in other words at all stages of travel, and at all places and facilities visited.
the
pandemic
communities
work
like
a
visa,
1950s an 1960s immunisation had to be recorded in
passports,
and
was
required
at
many
destinations. Fraudulent and forged certification will be a hazard, especially in less regulated devastating
developed countries and causing tragic loss to
officially permissible to travel, the most lucrative
so many families, these impacts are as nothing
tourists – mature adults and seniors who have the
compared
the
most available time and can afford to travel – will
populations and economies of countries in the
be those at highest risk of infection and death and
developing world that in recent years have
so will be slow to do so. Limited ‘essential’ travel
become some of the fastest growing tourism
will
destinations. Tourism revenues have become
regulation, for an indeterminate period. However,
essential to the functioning and growth of their
freely-chosen leisure travel by the general public
economies
and
will be impeded for a very long time. Airlines will
destinations,
with
and
its
towns
likely
life
effects
social
in
economies.What will be the position until an effective vaccine is available to all? Even once it’s
to
economic
could
most
cities
and
is
‘proof’
international driving license, or work permit. In the
The developing world While
This
on
systems.These
be
permitted,
with
social
distancing
and
their
densely
populated
be slow to resume frequent schedules, so there
and
sparsely
populated
will be limited capacity.
Levels of demand at
rural areas, have very limited medical services
resort-style destinations will be sparse, and grow
– few doctors and resource-starved healthcare
slowly,
systems. Coronavirus when it takes hold is
destinations will only be able to re-open when
likely to kill an unimaginable number of people
levels of demand reach their operational viability
and remain infectious in the population for
thresholds.
years.
so
businesses
at
formerly
popular
20 APRIL, 2020
PAGE. 8
Domestic before international Domestic
tourism
will
recover
first,
but
slowly, with limitations and controls and at different rates for different types of activity. Conditions and rules may vary by location. The earliest resumption is likely where social distancing and family isolation is practical, such
as
self-catering
accommodation.
Governments will more keenly appreciate the the
For much of the industry it will almost be like
tourism sector in supporting well-being and
starting again and this will make communication
quality of life, and will value and support
and marketing, in a chaotically fragmented world,
the industry more. Internationally, where
absolutely key. Online dealings will have become
adjacent countries have comparable rules and
more
trust each other, limited land border travel
materials and content will be much less in use
will be possible.
than in the past. However, tourism has always
economic benefits
and
necessity
of
Travel industry infrastructure
embedded,
and
physical
transactions,
been a person to person business, and it will be in
the
future. Trusted,
interaction
is
essential
safe, and
close will
personal
be
greatly
appreciated by people who have been isolated by the
pandemic.
Tourism
is
an
interconnected
Recovery will take time and depend on the
sector
assured health of tourists and destinations.
evolved to be mutually competitive, links exist for
Meanwhile much will have changed and it
communication and cooperation and there is
will be necessary to repair and rebuild travel
great potential to make them more effective. In
industry networks and contractual linkages.
the UK, we no longer have the structure of
and
although
many
businesses
have
national and regional tourist boards and publicprivate partnerships between local authorities and industry. Prior to 2000 these two were contractually
linked
and
organised
around
national policies and strategies. There’s no such functioning network now, just an underfunded VisitBritain and it's residual Visit England with loose
communication
links
to
the
disparate
plethora of so-called ‘Destination Management Organisations’.
20 APRIL, 2020
PAGE. 9
We need a much more effective, mutuallycooperative network for recovery and to optimise the future economic, social and cultural
benefits
weakness
of
of
the
tourism.
present
Given
the
arrangements
between our national boards and industry there’s surely the opportunity to speedily strengthen the links and create a trusted central
hub
for
information,
foresight,
liaison, inspiration and in all ways position ourselves
to
be
in
the
best
possible
condition to develop in the new world. Until then, the biggest opportunities for tourist boards and destination organisations are around
maintaining
their
networks
of
members and partners and preparing the most
enjoyable,
evocative,
experiential
materials possible for use online and via ‘push’ distribution.
Evolving with our contacts consumers
Tourism businesses in collaborative partnerships should take a leadership role to inform and inspire this work – both as a service and to keep those relationships alive. Keeping up public awareness of destinations can also help strengthen and build national, regional and local pride and morale – not least within hard-hit tourism and travel businesses and among the professionals who work within them. Future marketing will be very different, although how is currently unclear. Consumers are likely to have a different, more cautious approach to
belief
in
the
accuracy
of
information,
the
trustworthiness of travel providers, the safety of their payments, and provisions for reimbursement and
compensation.
In
summary,
we
need
to
During this period of enforced closure there
regularly remind ourselves that travel and tourism
is much the industry can do. We need to
is aspirational and that when people can travel they
keep our relationships and brands alive
will. They need the available time, money and
among audiences who have been starved of
permission to travel, but even then most will only
the joy and life-enhancing experiences that
choose safe and healthy places. There will be
tourism brought to their lives. We must also
recovery – when, and at what pace, nobody
be inventive and use our assets and our
knows. Meanwhile we need to be realistic and
networks
with
existing
and
accept unchangeable realities. The whole world is
to
evolve
new
in the same situation – our challenge is to be ready
experiences with creative ideas such as
when the new opportunities emerge, to be ahead of
quizzes, virtual treasure hunts, discovery
the game, and be an inspiration to others. We must
series or compiling online photo books from
all work for a future where the economic, social and
contributions by visitors and tourists. The list
cultural benefits of tourism are available to all.
potential
of
contacts
customers
of possibilities is endless. PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR VIEWS ON OUR LINKEDIN PAGE The e-journal is published bi-monthly by The Tourism Society—to provide information of interest to its members, their customers and/or employees. This replaces the quarterly Journal and is delivered electronically via email as e-newsletters have gained rapid acceptance for the same reasons email in general has gained popularity over printed correspondence. of you would like to contribute an article, opinion piece or Tourism Society event report please contact the secretariat on membership@tourismsociety.org For future events see www.tourismsociety.org