Association of Leading Visitor Attractions

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Department for Communities and Local Government

The Department sets policy on supporting local government; communities and neighbourhoods; regeneration; housing; planning, building and the environment; and fire. The Department is ending the era of top-down government by giving new powers to councils, communities, neighbours and individuals

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

We are the Department responsible for the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, and we help drive the Digital Economy. Our aim is to improve the quality of life for all through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is a government department in the UK. We make policy and legislation, and work with others to deliver our policies in areas such as: the natural environment, biodiversity, plants and animals; sustainable development and the green economy; food, farming and fisheries; animal health and welfare; environmental protection and pollution control; rural communities and issues.

Department for Transport

Our vision is for a transport system that is an engine for economic growth, but one that is also greener and safer and improves quality of life in our communities.

The Department provides leadership across the transport sector to achieve its objectives, working with regional, local and private sector partners to deliver many of the services. This section contains information on the Departments aims and objectives, its organisational structure, and the responsibilities of the various affiliated agencies.

Home Office

The Home Office is the lead government department for immigration and passports, drugs policy, crime, counter-terrorism and police.

The Scottish Government

The devolved government for Scotland is responsible for most of the issues of day-to-day concern to the people of Scotland, including health, education, justice, rural affairs, and transport.

The Scottish Government was known as the Scottish Executive when it was established in 1999 following the first elections to the Scottish Parliament. The current administration was formed after elections in May 2011.

The Welsh Government

The Welsh Government is the devolved Government for Wales. We are working to help improve the lives of people in Wales and make our nation a better place in which to live and work.

Association of Independent Museums

AIM (the Association of Independent Museums) is the national UK body connecting, supporting and representing independent museums.

Founded in 1977 in response to the growing number of community-based projects seeking to preserve locally and nationally-important heritage, AIM has grown to become a respected sector group, consulted on national policy and providing a thriving network for members.

Independent museums range from small local organisations, mainly operated by volunteers, to large institutions, many operating as charitable trusts, and represent over half the museum provision in the UK.

BALPPA

Founded in 1936, BALPPA is the non profit-making Trade Association which represents the interests of owners, managers, suppliers and developers in the UK's commercial leisure parks, piers, zoos and static attractions sector.

BALPPA speaks for some 300 members, and ultimately for many millions of customers every year.

BIAZA

BIAZA is the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums. We are the professional body representing the best zoos and aquariums in Britain and Ireland. Our Member Collections pride themselves on their excellent animal welfare, education and conservation work. BIAZA supports them in their work and helps promote the work of good zoos and aquariums.

ETOA

ETOA was formed to give Europes Inbound Industry a political voice. Joining ETOA means that whether you are a tour operator, wholesaler, hotel, tourist board or other service provider you identify with this cause.

Since 1989, ETOA has represented its members in the European political arena, delivering specialist seminars and hosting major workshops.

The Heritage Alliance

The Heritage Alliance, established in 2002 as Heritage Link, is the biggest alliance of heritage interests in the UK and was set up to promote the central role of the non-Government movement in the heritage sector. The Heritage Alliance has 90 members; national and major regional organisations including The National Trust, the Council for British Archaeology, the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) as well as many smaller and more specialised heritage groups.

Heritage Lottery Fund

Valuing our heritage, investing in our future

Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund gives grants to sustain and transform our heritage. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions we invest in every part of our diverse heritage

Historic Houses Association

The HHA represents 1500 privately-owned historic houses, castles and gardens throughout the UK. These are listed buildings or designated gardens, usually Grade I or II*, and are often outstanding. Many are considered to be iconic symbols of Britain's unique heritage.

Around 300 HHA houses open to the public for day visitors, attracting between them about 14 million visitors each year. Others open for special visits, weddings, corporate events or short breaks.

Institute of Tourist Guiding

To achieve and maintain recognition of the profession of Tourist Guiding and related occupations and to put in place uniform standards for qualifications at all levels, the Blue Badge being the highest award.

Kids in Museums

Kids in Museums is an independent charity dedicated to making museums open and welcoming to all families, in particular those who haven’t visited before. With a dedicated Board of Trustees and an exciting range of events, partnerships and initiatives, Kids in Museums gives families visiting museums and galleries across Britain a dynamic and powerful voice. The Kids in Museums Manifesto and the Family Friendly Museum Award have been incredibly successful ways of encouraging and guiding museums and galleries across the country to make family visits engaging and enjoyable.

Museums Association

We are the oldest museums association in the world, set up in 1889 to guard the interests of museums and galleries. We have 5,200 individual members, 600 institutional members and 250 corporate members.

Today we are still independently funded by our membership, which is made up of museum professionals, institutions and corporate members.

National Museums Directors' Conference

The National Museum Directors' Conference represents the leaders of the UK's national collections and major regional museums. Its members are the national museums in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, four leading regional museums, the British Library, National Library of Scotland, and the National Archives. The NMDC is an independent, non-governmental organisation.

Tourism for All

Tourism for All UK is the UK Voice for Accessible Tourism. We are a national charity dedicated to making tourism welcoming to all.

A break or a holiday, or a simple day trip is important to our lives, giving us something to look forward to, time to enjoy our families, a chance for adventure, or perhaps some time to ourselves, to recover, and acquire memories of happy times. In the past, some of us have encountered barriers to our participation in tourism - disabled people, older people, carers of young people or disabled or older relatives - Tourism for All works to overcome these.

The Tourism Society

The Tourism Society is the professional membership body for people working in all sectors of the visitor economy.

With over1000 members in the UK and worldwide, the Society was founded in 1977 with the aim of driving up standards of professionalism in a fast-growing global industry which can have major social, economic and environmental impacts on communities and nations.

UKinbound

UKinbound is the only trade association to represent and unite the UK's inbound tourism businesses. For over 30 years we have helped our members manage successful profitable businesses, which are part of a vibrant and sustainable inbound tourism industry.

Tourism Alliance

The Tourism Alliance seeks to establish and maintain a favourable operating environment for all businesses involved in the delivery of tourism, particularly in England. Its main purpose is to lobby government both in England and Brussels on the key strategic issues facing the industry.

Scottish Tourism Forum

The Forum is an independent trade body comprising trade associations, businesses, marketing and local area tourism groups who earn their living from tourism or have an active interest in tourism. Its purpose is to support the effort to have tourism recognised as Scotland's foremost sustainable industry and unite tourism interests with effective and independent communication and lobbying.

Wales Tourism Alliance

The Wales Tourism Alliance (WTA) was formed when the National Assembly for Wales was established and the responsibility for tourism was devolved from Westminster to Cardiff. It has evolved over the years and is now widely recognised as the voice of the industry in Wales. Its role is to inform and forward the views and needs of the tourism community to the Welsh Assembly Government, the Minister for Heritage and to Westminster (on non devolved issues).