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May Day bank holiday plans unveiled May Day bank holiday plans unveiled
(about 2 hours later)
Plans to scrap the May Day bank holiday in favour of either a St George's Day in April or Trafalgar Day in October have been outlined by the government. Plans to scrap the May Day bank holiday in England and Wales for alternative dates have been outlined by ministers.
Ministers argue the former strategy would start the tourist season earlier, while the latter would elongate it. Under the proposals, the holiday would be moved to St George's Day in April in England and St David's Day in March in Wales, or a Trafalgar Day in October.
The Trades Union Congress rejected a May Day change, saying firms have built schedules around established holidays. Ministers said the move would lengthen the tourist season but trade unions said it would disrupt firms and staff.
Meanwhile, widely discussed plans to bring UK clocks into line with Europe's were not included in the strategy. Meanwhile, widely discussed plans to bring UK clocks into line with Europe were not in the tourism policy paper.
Tourism Minister John Penrose said it had been "in, then out" twice from the final published document. 'National day'
Tourism Minister John Penrose said that proposal had been "in, then out" twice from the final published document.
The idea behind "double summer time" is to have clocks an hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in the winter and a further hour in the summer, to match Central European Time, which would mean lighter nights but darker mornings.The idea behind "double summer time" is to have clocks an hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in the winter and a further hour in the summer, to match Central European Time, which would mean lighter nights but darker mornings.
London Olympics But many people in Scotland have opposed the move, saying some of the northern-most areas would not see daylight until 1000 GMT during winter - increasing the risk of accidents.
But people in Scotland have opposed the move, saying some of the northern-most areas would not see daylight until 1000 GMT during winter - increasing accidents. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport's policy paper includes proposals to move the May Day holiday to St George's Day on 23 April in England and St David's Day on 1 March in Wales - to create a "national day".
The government's policy paper includes proposals to move the May Day holiday to St George's Day on 23 April in England and St David's Day on 1 March in Wales - to create a "national day".
A move to October could be either a "UK day" or a national day to mark military victories such as the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.A move to October could be either a "UK day" or a national day to mark military victories such as the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
Mr Penrose said he wanted to encourage more Britons to holiday at home and at the same time to get more foreign residents to visit the UK. Mr Penrose said he wanted to encourage more Britons to holiday at home and at the same time to get more foreign people to visit the UK.
"As a nation we are a little bit prone to underplay what we have on our doorstep," he said."As a nation we are a little bit prone to underplay what we have on our doorstep," he said.
He said the strategy also aimed to exploit the economic opportunities presented by next year's Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics. He said the tourism industry also had a "fantastic chance to step up a further gear" by making the most of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and London Olympics next year.
It is hoped an extra four million people will visit Britain over the next four years, spending an extra £2bn and creating 50,000 jobs. 'Red tape'
Consultation will now begin on any possible changes to the UK's tourism strategy, but no change is expected until 2013. It is hoped an extra four million people will visit Britain over the next four years, spending an additional £2bn and creating 50,000 jobs.
Consultation will now begin on any possible changes to the UK's tourism strategy but no moves are expected until 2013.
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "There is strong support for an extra public holiday as the UK has the stingiest allocation in Europe.TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "There is strong support for an extra public holiday as the UK has the stingiest allocation in Europe.
"But messing around with established bank holidays will disrupt people's schedules and create more red tape for employers.""But messing around with established bank holidays will disrupt people's schedules and create more red tape for employers."
He argued moving the May Day holiday forward was not about bringing forward the tourist season, which he said started around Easter anyway.He argued moving the May Day holiday forward was not about bringing forward the tourist season, which he said started around Easter anyway.
Instead, he said, it was "all about satisfying Tory backwoodsmen who have a bee in their bonnet because of May Day's association with international labour day".Instead, he said, it was "all about satisfying Tory backwoodsmen who have a bee in their bonnet because of May Day's association with international labour day".
May Day was a traditional British celebration dating back to the 4th Century, he added. May Day was a traditional British celebration dating back to the fourth century, he added.
What do you think of plans to move the May Day bank holiday? Could this boost the tourist season? Do work in UK tourism? You can send us your views and experiences using the form below.  rel="stylesheet" rev="stylesheet" href="/nol/shared/spl/hi/comments/css/1.3/comments-gvl3.css"/> name="dna-comments">

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