Tourism Policy Conference 2026

Tuesday 17 November 2026

Tickets ∘ Speakers ∘ Agenda ∘ Sponsors ∘

  • 9.30 – 16.30

  • Six Park Place, St James’s, London, SW1A 1LR

About the conference

Hosted by the Tourism Alliance, our flagship conference brings together senior industry leaders, policymakers and expert voices to examine the policy issues shaping the future of the UK visitor economy.

Speakers include Tourism Minister Stephanie Peacock MP, Migration Minister Jo White MP and East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward, alongside leaders from across government, business and the wider visitor economy.

Under the theme Tourism 2030: Growth, Access and Competitiveness, the programme tackles the sector’s biggest challenges and opportunities, from taxation and competitiveness, visas and inbound access, and place and destination, to sustainability, workforce and skills.

Through keynotes, panels and Q&A sessions, delegates can engage directly with senior government and industry leaders on the policy choices behind the next chapter of visitor economy growth.

It’s a day for informed debate, fresh perspectives and valuable conversations about what comes next.

Further details on sessions and programme content will be announced in the coming weeks.

General Admission

  • £205 + VAT  Tourism Alliance members

  • £295 + VAT Non-members

What To Expect

  • Keynote presentations and policy-led panels examining the strategic issues shaping the future of UK tourism, including competitiveness, international access, workforce, and long-term growth.

  • Discussion on how government policy, regulation, and investment decisions are influencing the visitor economy, and what a more pro-growth framework for tourism could look like over the next decade.

  • Opportunities to engage with senior policymakers, industry leaders and expert voices, contributing to high-level debate on the priorities required to support tourism as a key driver of national economic growth.

Ready To Join?

Join senior industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders for a focused examination of the strategic issues shaping the future of UK tourism, from competitiveness and access to workforce and long-term growth.

Hear from expert speakers and panel discussions exploring the key policy challenges and opportunities influencing the sector, and contribute to high-level debate on national priorities for tourism.

Connect with colleagues across government, business, and tourism organisations, and take part in meaningful discussions that help shape a shared agenda for the visitor economy over the next decade.

Our Speakers

 

Stephanie Peacock MP

Minister for Tourism

DCMS

Stephanie Peacock was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 22 July 2026.

She was previously Minister for Sport, Tourism, Civil Society and Youth between 11 September 2025 and 22 July 2026, and Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth between 9 July 2024 and 11 September 2025.

She was elected to serve as the Member of Parliament for Barnsley East in 2017 and has represented Barnsley South since 2024.

As the Minister responsible for tourism, the Minister’s keynote is a key moment to hear directly from government on the future of the visitor economy.

Jo White MP

Minister for Migration and Citizenship

Home Office

“A Smarter Border: Modernising the Journey to the UK”

Jo White MP, Minister for Migration and Citizenship, will set out how the Government is modernising the way people interact with the UK immigration system, and what this means for visitors arriving at the border.

Her speech will focus on how technology and digital transformation are creating a more efficient, secure and streamlined journey for travellers. She is expected to cover the move to digital immigration permissions, the wider digitisation of the border, the expansion of eGate eligibility and the Government’s ambition for a more contactless border experience.

The Minister will also look at the international picture, including the implementation of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), and what these changes mean for people travelling to and from the UK.

For the visitor economy, a quicker and smoother arrival is a vital part of the UK’s welcome and its competitiveness as a destination.

Jo White MP was appointed Minister for Migration and Citizenship in July 2026. Her portfolio includes legal migration, visas, passports, resettlement and the operation of the UK Border. She was elected MP for Bassetlaw in north Nottinghamshire at the 2024 General Election and served on the Home Affairs Select Committee until her appointment. Before entering Parliament she spent more than a decade as a district councillor and worked in road freight.

With responsibility for the policies that shape how international visitors and workers come to the UK, the Minister brings a vital perspective on the future of the visitor economy.

Claire Ward

Mayor

East Midlands

“Leading from the Regions: How Mayors Can Grow the Visitor Economy”

The Mayor represents 2.2 million people across the region and is Chair of the East Midlands Combined County Authority, working with partners across the region and beyond to deliver inclusive growth.

She has responsibility for transport, skills, housing and land, net zero and economic development. She previously served as MP for Watford from 1997 to 2010, including as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice from 2009 to 2010.

Chris Webb MP

Chair

APPG for Hospitality and Tourism

“The APPG’s Role in Supporting Tourism Businesses”

As Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Hospitality and Tourism, Chris Webb MP plays a key role in ensuring the concerns and priorities of tourism and hospitality businesses are heard in Westminster.

He will share insight into how the APPG works with businesses and industry leaders, builds cross-party support and engages with Government on the policy issues affecting the sector.

Representing Blackpool South, one of the UK’s best-known seaside destinations, Chris also brings valuable first-hand experience of the importance of tourism to local economies and the wider visitor economy.

Kathryn Pulham

President

CPT

Kathryn Pulham is President of the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), the UK trade association representing the bus and coach industry. She brings more than 17 years of experience in passenger transport, having previously been a Director of Pulhams, the Gloucestershire-based bus and coach operator acquired by The Go-Ahead Group in 2023.

A licensed passenger service vehicle driver, Kathryn continues to advise Go-Ahead and is Chair of the Women in Bus and Coach Coach Subgroup. She is also Founder and Director of BluClarity, supporting operators with transport compliance and certification, and Chair of Headspace, a mental health charity dedicated to supporting young people.

As CPT President for 2026, Kathryn is committed to representing the interests of the bus and coach industry, supporting the people who keep passengers connected, driving innovation and helping shape a sustainable future for passenger transport across the UK.

Janet Uttley

Chief Executive

UKSTAA

In “Short Term Rentals: Powering the UK’s Overnight Visitor Economy”, Janet will touch on the role short-term rentals play in bringing visitors to every part of the country, from cities to rural and coastal areas.

Janet is the new Chief Executive of the UK Short Term Accommodation Association (UKSTAA). She brings more than 35 years of tourism experience, gained at VisitEngland, the national tourism agency, as well as the Royal Horticultural Society, Imperial War Museums, Merlin Entertainments and Aspro Ocio.

Throughout her career, Janet has built and championed brilliant teams, creating memorable visitor experiences and forging groundbreaking partnerships across the industry. She is known for encouraging her teams to question and challenge established thinking, and she believes that this curiosity is what drives real change.

Janet is also a Non-Executive Director of the National Forest Company, where she sits on the National Forest Enterprises Board.

She is passionate about supporting and encouraging young people into the industry, helping them to see beyond outdated perceptions and embrace the positive potential a career in tourism can bring.

Marc Bolland

Lead Non-Executive Director

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

“Tackling NEETs: Getting Young People into Work”

Marc will explore “Tackling NEETs: Getting Young People into Work,” looking at what employers can do to open doors for young people not in education, employment or training, and how business and government can work together to tackle youth unemployment. He will share ideas on creating clear routes into work, the role of the Government’s Youth Guarantee, and how sectors like hospitality and tourism, often a young person’s first step on the career ladder, can lead the way.

A former Chief Executive of Marks & Spencer and Morrisons, and former Chief Operating Officer of Heineken, Marc is founder chairman of the charity Movement to Work, which has delivered over 200,000 opportunities for young people facing barriers to work. In his DWP role, he convenes Chief Executives across sectors to help expand opportunity and tackle youth unemployment.

With a business leader’s perspective on the #VisitorEconomy workforce, Marc brings valuable insight into how employers can build the talent pipeline the sector needs for the future.

Bernard Donoghue OBE

Director and Chief Executive

ALVA

Bernard is the CEO of the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, the trade association and advocacy body representing the UK’s most significant museums, galleries, heritage sites, cathedrals, palaces, places of worship, stately homes, gardens, zoos, performance venues, cultural organisations and visitor attractions.

He is Chair of the board of trustees of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre; Chair of the board of trustees of the People’s History Museum, Manchester; Chair of the London and South East Regional Advisory Board of the National Trust; and was Co-Chair of the Tourism Advisory Board of London and Partners between 2022 and 2026.

He is a guest lecturer on the Oxford Cultural Leaders programme of the Saïd Business School of the University of Oxford; on the Masters in Cultural Leadership course of the Royal Academy of the Arts; and on MA and BA courses of the University of Oxford, University College London and Goldsmiths College, University of London.

He is a former Chair of the London International Festival of Theatre (LIFT), the Tourism Alliance, VisitManchester, and the Ambassadors’ Council of WWF. Bernard was a trustee of WWF-UK, Centrepoint, the Museum of The Home, the Heritage Alliance and Kids in Museums, and was a member of the Cathedral Council of St Paul’s Cathedral, London. He is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Carpenters and is a Freeman of the City of London.

He was awarded the OBE in 2022 for ‘services to tourism and to culture’.

Ben Butler

Senior Policy Manager

Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)

“Supporting Small Businesses Across the Tourism Economy”

Ben leads policy work across tourism, high streets, local government and supply chains. He has played a key role in FSB’s response to the proposed visitor levy in England and co-authored FSB’s 2024 Future of the High Street report. With a background spanning policy development, advocacy, research and local government, Ben brings a broad perspective on the issues affecting small businesses, including those in the tourism and visitor economy.

Ben will offer a policy perspective on the issues affecting small businesses across tourism and the wider visitor economy. Drawing on the FSB’s work with small businesses and policymakers, his session will explore key issues including the proposed visitor levy in England, the future of high streets, local government and the resilience of supply chains.

Jonny Haseldine

Head of Business Environment Policy

British Chambers of Commerce

“Driving Good Tourism in every Postcode”

Jonny is Head of Business Environment Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, leading BCC’s work across the economy & business environment spaces. This includes coordinating BCC’s investment workstream, holding the pen on Budget submissions and representing members across a range of government engagement forums.

Prior to BCC, Jonny spent half a decade working in Parliament for an MP and before that spent time in the private sector.

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