BAA’s Wilson joins Tourist Authority board

The British Tourist Authority has appointed Des Wilson, director of

corporate and public affairs at BAA, to its board.

The seven-strong board acts as a strategic and advisory resource for the

BTA, which promotes Britain as a tourist destination in overseas

markets.

Wilson was appointed by Chris Smith, the Secretary of State for Culture

Media and Sport. Smith said: ’Des Wilson has a vast amount of marketing

and communications experience which I am sure will be of great benefit

to the BTA.’

Other members of the board include BA chief executive Robert Ayling,

chair of the Scottish Tourist Board Ian Grant, and Jarvis Hotels chief

executive John Jarvis.

Britain’s tourist industry is worth close to pounds 40 billion each

year. The BTA has 43 offices in 36 countries, with a staff of 217

overseas and 191 in the UK. It is sponsored by the Department of

Culture, Media and Sport, with individual campaigns supported by money

from the travel industry.