ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the development, structure and public policy of tourism in the twentieth century in terms of how it is applied in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (the development of Scottish tourism and the ensuing tourism policy is discussed in Chapter 5). It is complicated by legislation enacted in 1999 which devolved certain powers to the Welsh and Northern Ireland Assemblies in Cardiff and Belfast respectively, and the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, while other powers such as Defence, Foreign policy, and Social Security were reserved to Westminster. However, in comparison to the Scottish Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Welsh Assembly does not have legislative powers. Nevertheless, and although tourism in all three countries is a devolved matter, other policies with which tourism policy interfaces, and which influence it greatly such as Fiscal, Employment and certain aspects of Transport and the Environment are reserved. Furthermore, these responsibilities lie with other departments for whom tourism is, in many instances, a matter of lesser importance. This causes unnecessary tensions, and also unrealistic expectations of the Assemblies’ and Parliament’s ability to deliver particular, if not all, aspects of tourism policy successfully.
