The recommendations include the creation of special event visas for overseas delegates at business events and reduced VAT rates for international event organisers.
The recommendations will be submitted to minister for tourism John Penrose MP and bodies including the Department of Business Innovation and Skills and the All Party Parliamentary Group for Events.
The suggestions follow , whose events benefit from more government support and reduced rates.
The six key recommendations are:
- The events industry should increase government understanding of the value of hosting events in the UK
- The industry should encourage greater commitment from the government for event bids
- The Department of Culture, Media & Sport should publish a paper "to include the timely provision of support letters, assistance on bids and attendance at events."
- The National Tourism Agencies, supported by UKTI, should develop a best practice paper on bid support for events
- Tourism bodies engaged in VAT reviews should consider reduced VAT rates for conference organisers and venue hire for international events
- The UK Borders Agency should introduce special event visas for attendees of business events and conferences where there are over 2,000 overseas delegates
BVEP chair Michael Hirst said: "Subvention and bid support is an area which can be addressed positively to make our industry more internationally competitive and these recommendations have been put together to this end."
He added: "A number of initiatives towards meeting many of the objectives set out in the recommendations are already underway. We shall report further in the spring on what progress has been made."
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