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BISL LAUNCHES NEW ACTIVE ANNUAL 2005/6
01 March 2005

Business In Sport and Leisure launches new Leisure Industry Bible: The Active Annual 2005/6

Business In Sport and Leisure (BISL) has published its new Handbook for 2005/6; The Active Annual. This is the fifth annual publication, which summarises BISL's aims and objectives and highlights key achievements and issues of debate and concern within the industry.

Brigid Simmonds, Chief Executive of Business In Sport and Leisure said:
'I am delighted to announce the publication of the Active Annual 2005/06 during what is an exciting time for sport and leisure. The industry continues to grow above the rate of the UK economy as a whole, employing more than 2.5 million people and creating one in five new jobs.

'This year's Active Annual is full of key facts and figures on the industry. It covers the work of BISL and sets out the opportunities and threats for the year. Opportunities stem from the continued growth of the sector in a healthy economy and from the Government's renewed emphasis on improved sport and leisure provision. Meanwhile threats stem from over-regulation and taxation. Clearly there is much to look forward to in the year ahead and BISL's Active Annual provides the ideal guide.'

Ends

Note to Editors:

Business In Sport and Leisure is an umbrella organisation that represents over 100 private sector companies in the sport, leisure and hospitality industry and most of the major operators of commercial leisure facilities in the UK as well as consultants who specialise in this field.

The Handbook is split into two parts:

• Part 1 lists BISL Members and looks at the five working groups on property; liquor licensing; gambling; employment and sport in more detail. It considers the key issues for the industry in 2005/6 such as changes in legislation, taxation and good practice as implemented by central or local Government.
• Part 2 reports on the opportunities and threats facing the sport, leisure and hospitality industry in 2005/6. Opportunities lie in the continuing growth of the industry. Tourism is the sixth largest industry in Britain generating £76 billion per annum, 5% of GDP. Increases in Personal Disposable income have continued, with growth effectively 40% in real terms in ten years. We have a new Licensing Act whose implementation offers both an opportunity and a threat; and a Gambling Bill which is progressing through a political minefield but offers potential long term gain, if short term uncertainty, to the gambling sector.

Our potential threats include rising interest rates, the revaluation of property for the 2005 Uniform Business Rate and a barrage of regulation and legislation which consume considerable time and resource. Part two then goes on to look at individual sub sectors, with statistics on cinemas and indoor leisure, gambling, holiday parks and visitor attractions; health and fitness; sport; hotels; and pubs, bars and restaurants.

Contact: Brigid Simmonds, Chief Executive: 020 8780 2377 / 07710 485119

For a copy please contact : amanda.fry@bisl.org

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