MP Nick De Bois backs MPI Foundation’s UK Economic Impact Study

Conservative MP Nick De Bois has endorsed the Meeting Professionals International (MPI) Foundation’s UK Economic Impact Study (UKEIS), which was announced in full to the UK meetings industry at The Meetings Show UK on the 10th July.

The research, which was commissioned by the MPI Foundation and undertaken by the International Centre for Research in Events, Tourism and Hospitality (ICRETH) from Leeds Metropolitan University, revealed that the UK meeting industry delivers £58.4bn to the UK’s gross domestic product (GDP), making a contribution to the economy three times greater than agriculture.

"I fully welcome this important and significant research," says De Bois, who is Chairman for the All Party Parliamentary Group for UK Events. "For the first time, our industry has data that is credible, current and which clearly demonstrates the strength and value of the UK events industry. This repost should provide a basis for the industry to represent itself consistently in front of business and government."

According to the Study, the meeting industry is the UK’s 16th largest employer with more than 515,000 individuals directly employed, double that of the telecoms industry. Meetings made a direct Gross Value Added (GVA) contribution of £20.6bn - more than legal services, accountancy or broadcasting.

The UKEIS was produced by Dr ShiNa Li and the ICRETH research team which used the UN World Tourism Organisation methodology.

Click here to read more about the UK Economic Impact Study.

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