Online tourism service bad value for money - Sanders

5.14.12pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 17th Oct 2006

Adrian Sanders, Liberal Democrat MP

A multi-million pound government website designed to promote British tourism has been criticised by the Liberal Democrats.

Figures revealed in Parliamentary Questions by Adrian Sanders, Liberal Democrat MP for Torbay have forced the Government to admit that just 428 bookings have been made through the EnglandNet website during the peak-season period of April to August this year.

EnglandNet is described by VisitBritain, the body which promotes the UK as a holiday destination, as a 'virtual High Street for British tourism'. The service was established by the Government in 2002 to provide a central online platform for bookings with UK tourist operators. However despite Government investment of £10 million, the site has failed to attract visitors.

Mr Sanders said "This is another example of Government waste on IT projects. It would have been cheaper and simpler for the Government to pay for the holidays of the 428 people who booked through England Net.

"The money wasted on this service would have been better spent on providing internet and new media training to hoteliers and businesses so that they could effectively promote themselves online."